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SANTA Banking Detail: 
Account Name:  SANTA
Bank:  First National Bank
Account Number:  524 7453 8836
Branch Code: 200412

Thank You to our Donors

Fighting TB with Dutch Aid

In South Africa TB kills almost half a million people every year. Every year another half a million are infected with TB. If left untreated, a person with TB can infect 15 people.

Considering these statistics, it is extremely worrying that many South Africans simply cannot be bothered,” says Sue Holmes, chairperson of SANTA Hermanus. “TB is regarded as something ‘out there’ that affects people in poor communities.”

While South Africa is battling under the strain of the third highest TB rate in the world, some countries have succeeded in almost eradicating the disease. The Netherlands is a case in point. “Since we have virtually no TB cases in the Netherlands, our foundation that had been established in 1907 with the purpose of treating and assisting TB patients, has decided to turn where help is needed,” said Sonnevanck chairman Douwe Eerdmans, who visited South Africa in October 2015 with Sonnevanck secretary Hans de Fluiter.

For the past ten years the Sonnevanck foundation has been donating 5 000 euros per year to SANTA Hermanus. They support seven other communities in South Africa and in African countries like Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi.

The South African Department of Health does not fund any TB staff. SANTA helps fill this gap by employing eight health care workers at the Hermanus Community Day Care Centre in Zwelihle. 

Hans de Fluiter and Douwe Eerdmans of the Sonnevanck Foundation in the Netherlands during their visit to Hermanus in October 2015

Inspirational Stories

SANTA health worker rewarded for community service

The Hermanus branch of SANTA (SA National Tuberculosis Association) awarded merit award for service to the community at its annual general meeting in October 2015. SANTA Chairperson Sue Holmes lauded Benita Dreyer for the exceptional work she has done since joining SANTA in Stanford in August 2014.

In just over year through contact tracing (the identification and diagnosis of persons who may have come into contact with an infected person) Benita has increased 13 patients treated at the Stanford clinic to 51, of whom 22 are children.

The children are very close to may heart. To motivate them to take their medicine everyone gets a small geranium plant to care for. They proudly report back on its progress and quickly draw the parallel that care, love and the right treatment will also make them flourish. After successfully completing their treatment, the children receive a small present, like a pair of shoes,” says Benita, who clearly understands the importance of treating the problem of TB holistically – and the patients with empathy.

It is important to motivate all patients to complete their treatment over a six month period. Once they start feeling better, many want to stop taking the medicine. Others battle with side-effects like nausea, and want to give up. It is important to shower all of them with love and understanding. They are ashamed, feel like outcasts and are indeed often treated that way by society.” To help them cope with these emotions Benita introduced a group discussion twice a month.

Another challenge was making sure that patients are fed properly. “When I joined SANTA the local Spar had already been donating bread-rolls, and we make sure patients get a bowl of porridge in the morning when they visit the clinic,” says Benita.

She also started a soup kitchen. “Initially I made the soup at my house, but through word of mouth people from the community started getting involved. And then we started our own vegetable garden. Some of the vegetables are sold. Those who work in the garden share in the profit, providing them with some income, helping them on the path of providing for themselves.”

Accepting the award, Benita, who trained as an assistant nurse at the Nursing College in Tokai, said: “I wanted to give back to society, to the people of Stanford where I grew up and have spent my whole life.”

Sue Holmes and Benita Dreyer