McCord Feeding Scheme - request for donations

McCord Hospital in Durban runs an HIVAIDS support unit called ?“Sinikithemba?” (meaning, we have hope).

The support unit is located on the hospital premises on the Berea and is affiliated with the hospital but is, currently an unregistered non-governmental organisation (NGO).

Much of the income at the unit is generated by means of selling craft work and sewing that are completed by the actual patients who frequent the Unit. In addition to this the support unit also has a choir that has recorded and produced two CD?’s which, when sold on the market will also be a source of income. Being an NGO, the Unit also relies on funding from other institutions and organisations.

The support unit provides various important services to HIV/AIDS patients many of whom are from very poor communities and are thus not able to afford the treatment and support from other hospitals. A few of these services include, a support group for patients, nutritional drinks for patients awaiting treatment at the hospital, medical care assistance, and most importantly, food packages which are distributed to those patients needing it the most. The Unit is run by a dedicated team of social workers. In addition to this, a psychologist and a dietician also provide much needed assistance to the unit.

The aim of the four Programme Psychology 3B students (2002) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, is to assist in implementing a more effective framework, under which, the food packages will be distributed, as well as assisting with the maintenance of their vegetable garden. With regards to the food packages, this involves setting up direct drop-off points between the University and the Unit, for certain food items as well as obtaining a commitment from students to assist in the transportation. Furthermore, it involves obtaining written permission from the Head of School of Psychology, for the use of the faculty?’s Toyota Condor. In addition to this, various administrative functions need to be carried out such as finding a sponsor for packets in which to pack the food.

An important aim of our group is also to draw up a petition whereby we will be able to get staff members (at the University of KwaZulu-Natal) to donate R 50 ?– off their monthly salary, as a contribution towards the purchase of healthy and much needed food that will be included in the packages.

The salary deduction slip can be downloaded on the righthand side of this page.

Furthermore, we will also appeal to students to donate and assist in the project, where possible.

Our group will also be assisting the support group at the Unit, in maintaining and upgrading their vegetable garden. The plot of land that is the garden, is a relatively small one. Spinach is the main vegetable that is grown here as it is quick and easy to grow. Our group will also be conducting research on how to best manage the soil so that it always yields good vegetables as well as finding out what other types of vegetables are suitable to be grown in this environment. Finding sponsors in order to buy seeds and fertilizers will also be a task of our group. It is hoped that our group will be able to assist the Unit in running a thriving vegetable garden, so that healthy and nutritious food will always be available to the patients.

The work that our group has to do is very exciting as well as challenging. It affords us, as students, the opportunity to provide small but much needed assistance to the people that have dedicated their time to helping HIV/AIDS patients. Much of the work that our group intends on carrying out requires time, travel (to and from campus and the Unit), research ( both with the patients at the Unit, and independently) and funding. It is hoped that the HIV/AIDS Support Unit on our campus, together with HIVAN are able to assist us in obtaining the relevant funding that we need in order to ensure that our goals are indeed, achieved.