12 February, 2013

A new dawn for Newcastle Hospice Association

Sphelele Ngubane

Community officials of Newcastle Luthando Hospice Association saw their days of agonising coming to an end on Tuesday, December 04, 2012 when they received a vehicle to use when travelling to take care of the ill at their homes.

A portion of R500 000 the hospice received as a sponsorship from Lotto Distribution Fund in March this year, was used to acquire the brand new sedan.

According to the manager of the association, Ntombi Khumalo, working without a vehicle has been an obstacle that prevented them from regularly visiting the sick people in need of care.

She said now that they have a car, they will be able to help more people and be available when they are needed.

“We are very thankful to Lotto.  This car will help expand our services to the community,” said Mrs Khumalo.

The association which operates near the Newcastle train station takes care of 104 people around Newcastle.  It voluntarily gives help to people who live with disabilities, HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and other diseases.

Khumalo expanded on some of the challenges they were facing when they needed to visit people they are looking after.

“We found it hard to walk to some of the homes, sometimes we would even not find some of them,” explained Mrs Khumalo.

An assistant manager Thembi Maphalala said it felt good when someone was thriving whom she had helped.

“It becomes painful seeing someone suffering and one has no means of helping them but since we’ve been given this car I know we’ll do more,” Ms Maphalala optimistically said.

Ms Maphalala further explained although they had received donations from various instances but financial burden never diminished, as funds are always necessary to keep the hospice up and running.