Two local HIV/Aids programme will expand their rural operations and services after receiving a total of R50 000 from the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) and the East London Industrial Development Zone (ELIDZ).

The funds, which was generated as a result of a recent golfing event, was also supported by other local Buffalo City businesses.

The two organizations on the receiving end of this windfall are the Sinani HIV/Aids Programme, located in Mount Frere and St Bernards Hospice which is based in Buffalo City.

ECDC marketing manager Ikhona Mvaphantsi says that the corporation was unashamedly clear about the issue which they wanted to support.

“Without a doubt, we wanted to assist organisations who are helping our HIV/Aids infected and affected, particularly those who serve rural communities. It gives us great satisfaction to know that we have been able to demonstrate our internal HIV/Aids awareness to local communities,” says Mvaphantsi.

Her sentiments are echoed by the ELIDZ.

“The ELIDZ, as a good corporate citizen, wants to demonstrate our commitment to those who are infected and affected by HIV/Aids. This initiative provided us with the opportunity to achieve this goal in part,” explains ELIDZ communication professional Ayanda Ramncwana.

Sinani, which was started three years ago, provides home-base care for people who are infected or affected by HIV/Aids. It also supports children who now head their families after losing parents to HIV/Aids, as well as caring for orphaned children by helping them obtain social grants and identity documents. It has 19 care-givers who often walk long distances to reach the homes of their patients or affected families.

Sinani will use the funds to build an office and expand a craft project which the project believes will provide an income to families who are without a breadwinner.

Mrs S Dabula of Sinani on receiving the contribution says she was “so happy to receive such a generous donation at a time when the programme is trying to find its feet.”

St Bernards Hospice’s Rene Bursey was speechless to learn her organisation was to receive such a generous donation. “When I received a call, I wasn’t expecting more than R3000.”

“The R25 000 will go towards a much-needed vehicle which will be used for our outreach programme to rural communities in Buffalo City,” she adds.

She explains that expanding their services to the rural areas has been in the pipeline for the past two years, but insufficient financial resources didn’t allow for the purchase of a car suitable for rural roads.

The hospice’s primary service is to provide care for patients in the last stages of Aids and cancer. Its services also include spiritual and psychological care, handling legal issues and family counseling. The latter service may last up to two years after the patient has passed on. It aims to expand its services to include a child-care facility/day-care centre as well as teenage counselling.

The hospice has a core team of 15 professional nurses and home patient care givers, as well as 20 volunteers which includes a doctor and pharmacist.

“It was refreshing to see local business come together for such a good initiative,” says Ramncwana.

Businesses and organisations who supported the event included Buffalo City Development Agency, Captive Solutions, PDB, Smith Tabata attorneys, Vela Vike, Osmond Lange, First Technology, Freshmark Systems, Glenrand MIB, Simo Solution, Topaz, Boom Town Advertising, MTN mobile solutions, Business Connexion, Ninammsand and Dimension Data.