a Township near the Coal Mining and Steel Works town of Witbank, South Africa.

NGOs offering Home Based Care and support to families infected and affected by HIV/AIDS are an essential element of the response to the pandemic in South Africa. It would be impossible for hospitals or children’s homes to cope with the health and care situation in this country. Traditionally too people prefer to stay at home even though this places enormous burdens on the family. Many are hesitant to avail of the clinic services locally and some still mix traditional medicine with western medication. While the culture of silence is lessening in South Africa we are still not facing HIV/AIDS openly and this contributes to the challenges faced by home based carers, health care workers, educators, employers and pastoral ministers.

In Kwa-guqa Extensions Witbank, an area where over 300 000 people live with an unemployment rate of approximately 52%, there are eight active Home Based Care groups. One of these is Asiphilenikahle which is supported by two IBVM Sisters – Pat Hanvey and Marian Moriarty. Asiphilenikahle is a Zulu word meaning “let us live well”! This group of fourteen grew out of a committee within the local Roman Catholic parish community to become a registered NGO early in 2004. Fieldwork/home visits are the hallmark of this group. They are committed to improving the quality of life for families and assist them in a holistic manner. Each carer is responsible for about 25 families and most of these are affected in some way by HIV/AIDS. Grandmothers who are trying to rear several orphans and child-headed households are a particular concern for those involved in home based care.

Today 15th October 2005 there were sixteen funerals in the local cemetery which serves this area. It is a real challenge not only to help people to live well but also to assist them in coping with frequent deaths in their family circle and in the neighbourhood. The wonderful African spirit of ubuntu and sharing certainly contributes to keeping hope alive. HOPE is vital as one faces the reality portrayed by this photograph from our cemetery where a row of graves is dug open every week in preparation for funerals on Saturday. As you read this please send blessings of hope and healing to the people of South Africa.