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| During October of 2006 we were most fortunate in that 2 of our trustees were given the opportunity of visiting the Kabanana Home Based Care Centre (HBCC) that we support. This gave us a first hand account of what was happening ‘on the ground’ and enabled us to focus our efforts more directly on the needs of the orphans. Report of Marion and Ian Harrison’s visit to Kabanana October 9th to October 20th 2006 Main Contacts
2. Volunteers
Monica maintains two registers, one for patients and one for orphans. The patient register gives all patients a reference number, and links patient visits and Care-Giver. This register also records vital information about dependents, children, income etc so needy cases, particularly orphans, are quickly identified. The register of orphans records vital information such as name, family, date admitted for care and sadly, date of death as applicable. Monica has not admitted any more orphans to HBCC since January 1st 2006 because they are operating at their fullest capacity. However, the Care-Givers continue to visit orphans in the community. Monica also oversees the financial position with regular meetings with Fr Dom and Elizabeth (Treasurer) so that she knows how much food to order and whether funds will allow for other expenses such as medical aid and transport to the main hospital in Lusaka, school expenses and clothing. Fr Dom has great respect for her dedication and financial acumen in being prepared to travel miles to obtain the very best prices. In comparison to the others, she is highly trained and holds certificates in Project Management, Socio-psychological Skills, Counselling, Book-keeping and Basic Nursing Skills (she can administer drugs when the Nurse is off duty) paid for either by Monica herself or the diocese. 4.The Managing Agent Fr Dom works closely with the Care-givers holding regular meetings in the Parish Office. He has to approve every decision made in the parish He checks all the bank statements, and any cheques issued must be signed by him and then either Monica or Elizabeth. If the money from England is held up for any reason, or funds are critical, he will obtain funding from his own contacts . He has initiated the vegetable garden at the back of the parish house to provide fresh vegetables and fruit for the orphans. He is able to empathise with all the needy in his parish because he too is an orphan and has first-hand experience of suffering. He has high regard for Monica and the Care Team but he feel that other parishioners could be more involved with the work they are doing. He has found it difficult to obtain financial support from the richer members of the parish as some seem to resent the help being given to the needy through the HBCC and our financial support. He has organised various fund-raising activities but with limited success. He has a heavy work load with ministering to 3 churches within the parish (St John’s, St Joseph’s and St Peter’s), managing 3 parish councils as well as the HBCC and being Chairman of the Marian Shrine Pilgrimage Centre in Lusaka. When speaking privately to Monica, we were able to ascertain from her that he is highly regarded by the Care-givers and the needy. He is struggling to make himself accepted by all his parishioners, some of whom still compare him unfavourably with what they perceive as the richer, white priests. We found him to be a very humble, hard-working priest overflowing with gratitude for everything that Tony Harrington has put in place. 5.Transport One rather decrepit Toyota Pick-Up truck financed personally by Fr Dom and 6 bicycles provided by the diocese for the Care-givers to use for distant visiting. 6. Equipment and drugs a. All very basic such as a small examination room too small for an examination table, a small cupboard containing a meagre supply of drugs. All drugs are purchased through the diocese – ARV (antiretroviral) and TB drugs now supplied free by the State but strictly controlled and only for adult use. Any drugs for orphans or elderly people have to be purchased. b. 1 small fridge purchased by Monica to store the ARV and TB drugs from her own resources, otherwise patients would have to walk many km to nearest clinic. c. No separate room for counselling so this has to be conducted in Testing cubby-hole – no window to provide ventilation which is a major health risk for Daimon – at present, out of all the adult patients 110 are HIV positive and 97 HIV negative - no shelves for storing supplies. d. There are about 7 old electric sewing machines not in use at present because they cannot afford to purchase fabric. 7. Cooking and eating facilities a. All cooking is done over 2 wood fires on the bare ground in a roofed shelter with no glass in windows, no door and no preparation surfaces. b. The orphans eat in a roofed area with basic wooden tables and benches, but again with no glass in windows and no door. (Fr Dom arranged for these 2 shelters and also the classroom to be erected within the last few months because he was so concerned about the cooking being done and the children existing out in the open space in the compound. c. Small store room next to Monica’s office for peas and maize from WHO Food Donations (only to be distributed to adult TB or AIDs patients) and food purchased by Monica for orphans. We saw just a few bags of maize and peas and other requirements seem to be purchased as funds allow. 8. Classroom This consists of just 1 small shelter, with no glass in the windows and no door, again erected recently by Fr Dom with the support of his Rwandan friends. It must be noted that as with all the shelters on the compound, it is very basic, being constructed of breeze blocks and roofed with corrugated iron but at least the children are sheltered from the sun. They still get very dusty though. Margaret, the teacher and 1 volunteer assistant, run the Baby (10 orphans) and the Pre-school (30 orphans) classes together in the same room. School-age orphans only attend the government school for a morning or afternoon session so they join the compound school when they are not at government school. There may be more than 60 orphans squeezed into the tiny shelter at any one time. 9. The day’s timetable Monday to Saturday
10. Government Schools (outside the compound) Table of numbers of orphans attending and costs incurred per pupil in £
In addition, examination fees of £16.30 and £22.72 to collect results Monica has provided a list of children who cannot attend school this year until the fees are paid, and also of children who will need assistance next year. Mattias Banda and Angela Piri have finished Grade 12 and are ready to begin higher education – costs of this not ascertained. 11. The clinic At present, run by Beatrice (the nurse) and Daimon (Counsellor &Tester) whose salaries are covered by HBCC. Posters everywhere asking ‘Do you know your status?’ meaning do you know whether you are HIV positive? Patients have to register at clinic, attend 2 counselling sessions and can then be tested – if positive, they can receive free ARV drugs and weekly support group sessions. Clinic also administers TB treatment. 12. Visiting the sick outreach Priority is to the chronically sick (TB and HIV) and many orphans come from these patients. The team (always at least 2 Care-givers together) visit patients in their homes to support them and their families, check on medical progress, offer counselling and any other appropriate support. 13. Present numbers of orphans As at June 2006, 127 in total of whom 61 female and 66 male. Since January 2006, they have had to turn many away but the Care-giver Team continues to visit them in their foster home. 14. The additional plot of land HBCC has purchased a small plot of land used to cultivate maize and vegetables but due to lack of security fence, crops were stolen so at present it is not being used. 15. RECOMMENDATON a. Target fund raising to allow following budget to be financed:
16. PROPOSED ORPHAN ACCOMODATION UNIT Discussed this at length with Monica and Father Dominique who have great concern regarding a number of the orphans (particularly girls) who are in abusive foster homes. They wish to create an on-site accommodation facility to provide these children with security. A local builder spent two days on site at our suggestion and prepared a detailed quotation as follows:-
17. RECOMMENDATION Commit funds immediately to allow completion of classroom block before the rainy season (donation is available to cover this item) Commence fund raising towards eventual construction of dormitory block, secure wall for new land and piggery unit thereon. (Subject to clarification of actual figure required by builder to complete the work) Commit funds when available for incidental capital expenditure e.g. additional cooking equipment presently needed c £150. Commence fund-raising towards assisting annually (Dec/Jan time) with sum required to pay school fees and costs estimated annually at £500. Commit funds when available to allow purchase of stock of fabric that would allow sewing machines to be brought in to use, giving extra skills training to the orphans and also potentially generating income from garment sales. 18 SUMMARY In summary we found Kabanana Care Centre to be well managed by caring individuals who have a heart for the orphans and adults in their care. They worship God with an infectious joy and enthusiasm and reflect practical Christianity in their approach to the parishioners who are in contact with the centre. We fully endorse the work and their plans for expansion and recommend that the Trust actively seeks ways to increase its support as outlined above. Marion and Ian Harrison 10th November 2000
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