Statement by Health Minister Pierre Uys: International Volunteers' Day

Minister Pierre Uys issued a statement today in support of International Volunteers' Day. He says some hospitals in the Western Cape are pressed to meet patient demands. Institutional care, however, is not always the answer to a patient's needs. Often long term and terminal patients are much better off in a home-care environment with family and friends while institutionalised care often places considerable financial burdens on the families of such patients.

"Home based care is an important part of our health care strategy and involves major volunteer action. It is the provision of health services by formal and informal caregivers in the home in order to promote, restore and maintain a person's maximum level of comfort, function and health including care towards a dignified death."

Home care must not be seen as inferior to institutionalized care, says Uys. "Where necessary family members can be trained to care of their kin and so become part of a highly appreciated volunteer corps.

"Our volunteers are active in a variety of health care fields. We have hundreds of volunteers helping in our emergency health services, our hospitals, at community centres and clinics. We owe them our heartfelt thanks.

"Volunteers are a breed of very special people and I believe that they should be placed on pedestals for all to see. I am proud of them. It is they who only need one reason for doing what they are doing and never a thousand reasons why they cannot do something. I thank all our volunteers on behalf of the citizens of the Western Cape whose lives have been and are being enhanced by their services."

Issued by:
The Directorate Communications
Office of the Superintendent of Health, Western Cape
Department of Health

Faiza Steyn
Director: Communication
Tel: 021 483 3235

Herman van der Westhuizen
Media Liaison Officer to the Minister of Health
Tel: 021 483 2627