Support Children Orphaned by Aids in South Africa

Starfish Partner- eMasoyi Community Development Foundation

In the village of Mphatseni, we have discovered a family of 12 children that have been abandoned by their parents. The children are cared for by their 69- year old grandmother

 The 18-year old girl has since dropped out of school because she must look after her siblings whilst her grandmother goes to work as a domestic helper. She earns a small income and it is not enough to provide for the family. To complicate matters further the grandmother is a foreign national living in SA with no access to benefits such as social income grants. Some of the children are also without birth certificates, eMasoyi Foundation has reported this to  Department of Social Development for assistance and is awaiting their response.

The Starfish Wellness Wagon team conducted a health assessment and note that the children were not fully immunized as per the required health schedule. We provided the children with vitamin A and deworming medication. Those who needed injectables immunization had to be transported to the local clinic. Community care workers conduct monthly monitoring visits to support the family.

The District Coordinator for Non-profit organizations from the Department of Health, Mr. Khalishwayo visited the family with the Starfish Wellness Wagon. The Wellness Wagon also delivered a food parcel and sanitary towels to the family.

The Starfish Wellness Wagon is having a great impact on our communities as it reaches many communities where it is difficult to access health care services.