Statement by Provincial Health Minister Pierre Uys on strengthening Home Based Care Services in the Western Cape

The important role of home-based care in the Western Cape Health Services was emphasised again today by min. Uys during his visit to health care workers at Citrusdal.

Citrusdal is one of the recognised centres of the departrment's biggest projects namely a Primary Health Care Partnership which focuses on home based care and community based care.

Home Based Care is the provision of basic nursing care needs by formal or informal caregivers to sick people in the comfort of their homes. The programme also aims to promote, restore and maintain a patient's maximum level of comfort, including care towards a dignified death. Min. Uys says "this service is available to people who have mental, physical, emotional and social needs and it is therefore that the Department will provide Home Based Care to 9 000 patients of all categories, of which 3 500 will be category 3 patients (terminally ill), before Christmas 2005".

Amongst people who qualify for this care are those who have had strokes, who are living with HIV and Aids, who are physically or mentally challenged, frail older persons, or those who are terminally ill.

"Home-based care is not a 24-hour service and does not replace the family as the primary caregiver, but it is only meant to be a complementary and supportive service to prevent caregivers, who have no other option but to care for sick relatives from overworking themselves" says Uys.

Home based care is also an integral part of community-based care. Community-based care is the care that people can access nearest to home, which encourages participation by people, responds to the needs of people, encourages traditional community life and creates responsibilities. Caregivers from the various organisations have to complete a home-based care course facilitated by the Department of Health. Continuous, in-service training is provided by the Department to ensure competence.

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

Herman van der Westhuizen
Media Liaison Officer to the Minister of Health
+27 483 2627