What does Nakekela offer?

IN-PATIENT CARE
Patients admitted to Nakekela Christian Community Centre receive 24 hour physical, emotional and spiritual care. Care workers have received various training sessions in this specific area of care.

This care includes:
    Regular meal times
    Daily monitoring of medication
    Regular check-ups from the Doctor and Staff Nurse
    Pastoral visits
    Visits from a qualified Counselor
    Weekly physiotherapy sessions
    Art Lessons

COUNSELING
Through God’s Word, we wish to guide individuals to a better understanding of themselves and who they are before God. The Bible also is our basis in providing comfort and encouragement during their stay.
Local pastors and a counselor visit weekly in order to care for the emotional and spiritual needs of our patients and staff and the local community through discussions, prayer, and Bible reading.

PHYSIOTHERAPY
Patients have access to weekly physiotherapy sessions with a qualified therapist. Over the years we have seen the benefits of this exercise in that patients have come in wheel chairs and were able to walk out by the time they are discharged.

ART THERAPY
Patients receive weekly art classes in painting, card making and other crafts. This activity provides patients with the enjoyment of creating something special and unique. Many of these pieces of art decorate the walls at Nakekela. We believe this type of therapy gives a feeling of accomplishment and hope to keep going on.

HOME BASED CARE
Working with the local government clinics, our Home Based Care teams go out and care for patients in their homes.  Their duties require bathing, feeding, monitoring medication, assisting with clinic appointments on an as needed basis. If carers feel that they are no longer able to care for their patients at home, they suggest admission to Nakekela, where the patient can receive 24hr care. Depending on the availability of beds, we assess situations according to the need and admit patients to our facility.

COMMUNITY AWARENESS
Our goal is to involve the community in our project. We hold Open Days where churches, schools, clinics, police and government officials can come to Nakekela and learn more about who we are and what we are doing in the Greater KwaMhlanga area.
Many students from the local schools come to our facility to seek assistance with homework and school projects. Some of these projects require the use of internet which many families in the community do not have. We have also begun participating in helping various groups of students fulfill their community hours required in the Life Orientation subject.
Each year, government officials and community members gather at Nakekela to perform 67 minutes of voluntary work to commemorate Mandela Day. Much work is completed and bonds are created, solidifying our efforts to work more closely with the government clinics and programs.

Admission criteria

The procedure on admission at Nakekela are as follows:
  1. The patient MUST be a member of one of the local clinics.
  2. The patient must also be a member of a burial society.
  3. The patient must have been tested for HIV (and if possible TB), with his/her certificate and if possible be in possession of his/her CD 4 count.
  4. The condition of the patient must have been assessed by either the Medical Consultant or the Home Based Care Manager or staff nurse, and on grounds of the seriousness of his/her condition referred and listed by the named for admission at Nakekela.
  5. A family member or friend of the family should preferably accompany the patient when he/she is admitted in order to provide the Nakekela Staff with all the relevant information concerning the patient on admission.
  6. An admission fee of R700.00 is payable on arrival and thereafter, should the patient stay with us longer than a month, the amount of R700.00 is payable on the first of every month.
  7. The family of the patient will be responsible when the patient is required to go to the hospital or clinic or in case of obtaining grant money—Nakekela cannot take full responsibility for these actions.  If the family cannot assist alternative arrangements have to be made.
  8. Patients must also hand in all medication, clinic card and ID on arrival at the Centre.  This is so that the staff nurse can monitor proper administration of medication and clinic dates.
  9. No smoking or alternative medication as received from traditional healers will be allowed when admitted at Nakekela.  If any patient uses traditional remedies on weekends at home, Nakekela has the right to discharge such a person, especially if his/her condition deteriorates because of this.
  10. No food may to be provided by family to the patient except if previously consulted with the staff nurse or doctor.
  11. Patients must hand in all money to the staff nurse to be locked away, and accessed at the patient's request.  No responsibility can be taken by staff for money in cases where  patients keep their money in their rooms.

SUPPORT THE WORK OF NAKEKELA TODAY

We rely on donations to meet the needs of our patients and keep our facility available to the community. 
If you would like to support the work of Nakekela, know that every cent is tracked and invested carefully. 

All gifts can be EFT'd to Nakekela, Standard Bank Bronkhorstspruit, Account 348123027
Branch Code 052850, Swift code SBZAZAJJ  

Please drop us an email to let us know about your gift so we can thank you!
KEEN TO BE MORE HANDS ON?  
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Nakekela constantly needs the following items for our in- and out-patients:  
Clothes (pyjamas and sleepers), medication, wheelchairs, ​walking frames,
toiletries (wash cloth, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, feminine hygiene items), blankets and Bibles. 

Please email our office to find out more or arrange a time to visit.