Four South African Staff Visit Their Partner Programs in Northern Wisconsin: The work we do is the same

By Maria Demja, Provincial Palliative Care Development Coordinator of the Western Cape, Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa

The home health aides commented to each other about the frigid cold as they waited for someone to open the front door of the patient’s home. As the patient’s wife invited them into the warm house, she eagerly joined the conversation, quickly agreeing that the wind was blowing a harsh chill that morning. As the home care givers went into the lounge they saw Frank^* lying on his hospital bed, fast asleep.

Gently they woke him and wished him ‘Happy Birthday’ for today Frank had turned 70. This was one of the reasons the aides had chosen to visit today. The other reason for their visit was to bathe him. With great care and consideration of his frail state and advance disease (Ca stomach) they fulfilled their duties. Without having to speak they knew when to lift or turn Frank and gave encouraging words as they completed his bed bath.

They had also been asked to shave Frank’s beard today. All his life Frank had been clean shaven but with his deteriorating condition and the pain caused by moving his neck, shaving had not been attempted for a few days. Today being his birthday he wanted to look his best for all the friends and family that would be visiting.

With clean water collected they carefully began to shave Frank’s face. Working in harmony and silence, one aide used the razor while the other lifted his head and held it firmly to keep his discomfort to a minimum. It was a slow process but no one was in a hurry. It was Frank’s birthday and they wanted to ensure he enjoyed it with as much dignity as possible given his frail condition.

For you the reader, there is very little new to this story. Many of us are insiders to the hospice and the palliative care world – hearing stories like this every day. What is new about this story is that the people providing the care come from two different continents, trained with different methods and resources in different systems and before Frank’s birthday had never met each other. And yet, it is the similarities in hospice programs in Africa and the United States that exist to such an extent that Frank’s care did not require a lengthy explanation or training session before it could be carried out – it could and did just happen.

During a recent visit by four South African staff to their partner programs in northern Wisconsin the re-occuring theme was that the work we do is the same with relatively few differences. Both the U.S. and South African partners felt they could learn from each other and agreed that the relationship they shared was about much more than just money. It seems like such a small thing to send an email to someone – encouraging them to continue their work, letting them know you too have days when you feel like giving up, and once you receive that email from your partner, it can be the thing that keeps you going. The greatest benefits are the mutual experiences and understanding that you are not alone in this work.

FHSSA does more than just link hospices across the Atlantic Ocean, it facilities friendships. It connects people more than it connects programs. FHSSA is the conduit for hope, encouragement, knowledge, skill sharing, funding support and experience – it allows palliative care and hospice services to be provided to your sister and my brother in America and Africa. FHSSA’s work is necessary and important for without them I would not have made friends with Sue and Sandy and Carla and the other Sue and Dianne and Stacy and Pat and the many more people that encouraged and supported me when I thought providing care in Africa was too challenging.

At the HOPE of Wisconsin State conference the South African’s encouraged other Wisconsin hospices that are not already involved in FHSSA’s Partnership Initiative to apply for one.

Besides visits to their hospice ‘sister’ programs, the Breede River group also experienced the beauty of Wisconsin in the late Fall, their first snow fall (and of course a snow ball fight) and the sincere hospitality of mid-westerners. Talks are underway for future visits in either direction and both the USA and SA partners agree this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship!

^*name changed to protect patient’s privacy

Adapted with permission from the Foundation for Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa website, February 2009.

To learn more, please visit http://www.FHSSA.org.