Community Care Centre for Hlabisa
IN the fight against HIV/AIDS in uMkhanyakude District, MEC for Social Development, Weziwe Thusi officially opened a Community Care Centre on Tuesday.
The centre, which will benefit community members residing in Ward 1 to Ward 5 in Big Five-Hlabisa Municipality, will render support to orphaned, vulnerable children and youth.
The centre will be a major boost for uMkhanyakude District, which is one of the most deprived districts in the country.
MEC Thusi said the centre, which is managed by Vukuzakhe Integrated Home/ Community based Care Organisation, was funded by her department to the tune of R1-million.
‘We have also allocated to the organisation an on-site social worker and a child and youth care worker, with a view to intensify prevention programmes in schools and the community.
‘The overall objectives of community care centres include rendering support to orphaned and vulnerable children and youth, non-profit organisation capacity building, reduction of teenage pregnancy, improving nutritional status of the children and improvement of integrated services.
‘Handing over of this facility was part of government’s intention to changing the lives of the people for the better.
‘This area is not spared the scourge of social ills, which are affecting our country.
‘We therefore need the support of civil society, so that we can fully ensure that a better life for all our people is a reality. It is encouraging to see the active community involvement in this project,’ she said.