Message from the Director
Sr. Colette Mthimkhulu
Our duty of care is always dependent on following the footsteps of Paul Joseph Nardini, the founder of the Franciscan Nardini Sisters of the Holy Family. His aim was “To bring the Good News to the poor through works of charity”. Paul Joseph Nardini entrusted the community of his sisters to the protection of the Holy Family. Duduza Care Centre is one of the branches established by the Franciscan Nardini Sisters.
I will start by thanking God, the Almighty who has blessed the work which has brought us together. If it wasn’t for God, I believe that we wouldn’t be sitting here.
We started the year 2022 rather scared, confused after seeing the number of people with Covid-19 decreasing, we could not believe what we saw, not knowing if we are surviving with this Organization or if Covid-19 was still coming back. It was such a joy to have all our objectives implemented, services rendered to the community without fear.
We are known as Palliative Care Champions in our District, these services are rendered in our in-patient unit and Home Based Care Services. This program is at the heart of Duduza Care Centre. We are proud to have been able to specialise in providing pain and symptom control, which offers the quality of life for patients and their families, facing life threatening illnesses. We all know that in sickness and in pain the level of stress and anxiety rises. Psychosocial interventions is of utmost important in Palliative Care.
I would like to thank our Duduza Board Members who have always provided leadership, support and guidance in managing the organization.
Duduza Care Centre is a non-profit organization situated just 35km North of Dundee, it is based at Maria Ratschitz Mission which was established by the Trappists of Mariannhill as a large Mission station in 1888. Maria Ratschitz with its substantial mission buildings and splendid pro-cathedral, named Our Lady of Sorrow, was regarded as the mother church of the Diocese of Dundee and Northern Natal. Maria Ratschitz was revived by the Franciscan Nardini Sisters who came to Maria Ratschitz on the 27th of January 1998, on the anniversary of the death of Fr Nardini, founder of the Franciscan Nardini Sisters. Maria Ratschitz had become a silent ruin, albeit a beautiful one.
On the 27th of January 1998, three sisters namely, Sr. M Irmingard Thalmier, Sr Regilind Eichenseher and Sr M Immaculate Ndlovu started the fourth Nardini venture in South Africa in establishing Maria Ratschitz Mission and Convent. For Bishop Michael Pascal Rowland who had a dream to revive Maria Ratschitz Mission which was in ruin, with many unsuccessful requests to Religious Brothers and Sisters congregations, at last, his dream of many, many years came true through the Nardini Sisters. Blessing and rededication of looking out for took place on 15 August 2000.
Home Based Care/ Palliative Care
The idea of home nursing for terminally ill patients was born.
Sr. Immaculate who had failed to secure a teaching post in the nearby school, could be persuaded to train herself as a trainer of ‘home-based’ caregivers. This training of simple, rather ‘uneducated’ women from the surrounding villages proved to be a very powerful instrument. Not only did they acquire skills in nursing, but they also brought about a change in the whole perception of neighbourly care in their home areas. They remained close to their neighbours – geographically and in their mentality and customs. We were told mainly by the hospital nurses’ establishment – that this would never work, that nursing at home outside was culturally not acceptable, and neither was working without remuneration.
Now a network of home-based caregivers exists. They look after the terminally ill in their homes, do counselling and bereavement care for their families, identify orphaned children and organise help for them and for other vulnerable children, assist in achieving food security for people infected and affected by HIV, help access ARV treatment and form support groups. The carers themselves are being looked after in a continuous programme of spiritual and personal development and accompaniment to prevent burnout. The whole undertaking is financed by generous donations from overseas and from local donors.
In-Patient Unit
While we were increasingly engaged in home-based care of the terminal AIDS patients, it became apparent, that some could not be cared for in home circumstances. The palliative care idea developed, The Nardini Sisters at Maria Ratschitz started to use one of the old buildings as a hospice for terminally ill patients, mainly those suffering from HIV/AIDS to the logical consequence of a resident care facility. We deliberately wanted to avoid the cold hospital atmosphere, so feared by our patients. We nursed our patients on mattresses on the floor, and we chose the carers from our own group of home-based carers. And we saw wonders of peace and even temporary recovery of these unfortunate “hopeless” people. A few weeks after opening the hospice, we admitted a terminally ill young man, in very bad condition. A week later he could sit on the veranda, looking at the now rather well-established flower garden and said: ‘This is so beautiful’! These were his first words since his admission. We carers of the first hour will never forget his smile and these words. A ruin restored indeed.
Hiv Prevention/ Youth Education (Choose Freedom Youth Movement)
To prevent HIV infection and respond to the fear and confusion of young people amid this AIDS pandemic, a peer-to-peer AIDS education programme for youth in and out of school has been developed under Duduza Care Centre, calling itself Choose Freedom Youth Movement. They give factual and accurate information on all matters relating to HIV/AIDS and sexual health, transmit skills in counselling and leadership, and support one another in regular group meetings. About 500 youth volunteers have been trained and are active in groups at various locations throughout the area. Apart from recruiting and training other youths, they also assist in orphan care and in small income generating projects.
Challenges
Unfortunately, we experienced a fire in the hospice on 1 April 2007. The hospice burnt down to the walls, three patients and our sister Anne died in the flames. On 28th of November 2008, it took 17 months of planning, funding and rebuilding to reopen Duduza Care Centre. Thanks to an enormous outpouring of help, mainly from Germany, the hospice was rebuilt as a modern, functional building still serving the people.
The old hospice building was restored and now serves as a place for lectures and overnight facility for personnel working and living in the mission. In the downstairs room, next to the entrance, a cross and a beautifully executed sculpture of a phoenix have been placed in remembrance of Sr Anne giving her life to save others from the fire. Once again, the Motherhouse came to our aid and paid for all the expenses not covered by insurance.
Sr. Irmingard Thalmeier founded Duduza Care Centre on the 1st October 1999. In 2011 she went back to Germany leaving the Organization in the hands of Sr Colette. Sr Colette on the same year took over as the Director of Duduza Care Centre to date.
+27 78-150-2946
