Your support changes lives

Cataract surgery has a high success, low complication rate and is a wonderful example of a high impact intervention. Cataract surgery is a modern day miracle that should be available to all who need it. Waiting lists are long and the degree of visual impairment is massive with devastating consequences for the quality of life of both patients and their families. Lives are transformed by the restoration of sight. There are significant costs involved in this offering which include transport of patients, purchase of `less regularly used consumables needed for individual patients, and maintenance and acquisition of equipment. Join us through your donation in providing the gift of sight, and in so doing changing lives of patients and families alike. Together we can make the difference that matters!

A key component of Tshemba’s volunteer programme is to upskill local staff and create a sustainable impact in the community. Our volunteers run and/or contribute to various training programmes, including:

• Back to basics training for nurses to improve foundational practices such as the recording of vital signs.
• Emergency obstetric drills which is proven to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality rates in obstetric units.
• Development of a health promotion training programme, which trained nurses can then share with their patients.

Local, unemployed nurse assistants volunteer for 4 months in OPD providing an essential service helping volunteer and other doctors communicate with patients. Their focus is to overcome language barriers allowing doctors (or volunteers) to provide more culturally responsive care. Their experience helps them to practice what they learnt during training, learn new skills and improve their employability. It is unusual for local people to volunteer so these are very special nurse assistants. They also have an opportunity to contribute to various Tshemba projects such as the woman’s health project, reproductive health sessions in the schools and helping out at cataract camps.  If they show especial aptitude in these projects, your donation helps us to employ them in the project after their volunteer period.

Funds are always needed to support small and urgent maintenance issues in the hospital, which would otherwise take time due to lengthy petty cash approval processes. This improves the efficiency of nurses and healthcare professionals.

Key initiatives include:

• Cultivating hospital grounds: Our volunteers would like to create a succulent garden – perfect for a water-scarce area – in order to create a stress free environment for patients to enjoy.
• Renovation and refurbishment of the hospital wards: There are various ongoing needs throughout the hospital, such as fixing leaking roofs in the various wards, painting the new woman’s health clinic, and refurbishment of the Outpatient Department.

Tshemba’s volunteer’s have also noted a need for medical supplies that could improve the quality of care for patients at Tintswalo Hospital and the surrounding clinics. 

Your donations will fund medical supply needs such as:

• Loops for the LLETZ machine used for cauterising abnormal lesions on the cervix.  
• Small medical supplies such as suture scissors and kidney dishes.
• White boards to write the current status of patients, printed and laminated bed numbers, as well as new files to help with patient management and referrals. 

Medical volunteers face significant challenges due to the shortage of essential equipment. The lack of these crucial items impedes their ability to provide accurate care to the clinics they serve, highlighting the urgent need for donations for the following equipment such as:

Stethoscope
BP machine with small and wide cuff
Ear Thermometer
Pulse oximeter
Tape measure
Reflex hammer
Small torch
Glucometer (with glucosticks)
Otoscope and ophthalmoscope with battery
Tuning fork
Tourniquet
Tongue depressors
Dip sticks
disinfectant or alcohol swabs, lubricant jelly for examinations
gloves
Salbutamol inhaler and paediatric Volumatic with mask
Steristrips
Tweezers & Scissors