MEC marks Children’s Day in Clairwood

KWAZULU-Natal MEC for Finance, Belinda Scott, celebrated International Children’s Day with children with life-threatening and life limiting illnesses in Clairwood Hospital on Monday, 1 June.

This year International Children’s Day marks the 90th global celebration of the rights and well-being of children around the world.

It is a day dedicated to not only celebrating, but also appreciating the role children play in the future of all communities around the world.

In partnership with uMduduzi Hospice Care for Children (MHCC), a non-government organisation which offers a number of services under the umbrella of palliative care, MEC Scott visited Clairwood Hospital’s paediatric ward to promote and provide compassion to the ailing young children.
“I heard of uMduduzi Hospice Care for Children and the amazing services they render towards palliative care with their limited resources, which is a new concept in South Africa and which needs to be incorporated in the health system. But I think this non-government organisation needs a lot of support, particularly funding, so that this can be a fixed programme to benefit more children,” said MEC Scott.

The deputy director of MHCC, Dr Julia Ambler said:
“We aim to promote and provide compassionate care to children with life-threatening and life limiting illnesses.
It is all about bringing compassion, dignity, relevant care and relief from discomfort and pain to children diagnosed with terminal illness within the province.
We do this through direct patient care, mentorship, empowerment of caregivers, training and advocacy”.
“Palliative care has been in existence for a long time in other countries but it is relatively new in our country. We also deal with the bereavement phase which is the very difficult moment for the family and the child.
We will be there to support both the child and parents.” said Dr Ambler.

CEO of Clairwood Hospital, Njabulo Gwala, said: “The department of health in the province is aware of palliative care supports this initiative.
The province has instituted a task team that is looking into the establishment of a palliative care programme in most hospitals.
The aim is to have allocated palliative care beds in each hospital.”