The global epidemic that is still with us

World AIDS Day on 1 December is intended to shine a spotlight on a virus that has been a subject of scientific research and debate since the virus was identified in the 1980s. The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) timeline shows the worst and best of human nature. From fear, inequality and exclusion to hope and determination. ​Despite the huge success South Africa has had in fighting HIV/AIDS, many people still get infected with HIV every year.

Hospices provide care for about 100,000 patients each year. Today, 44% of those patients are HIV positive. Many suffer from more than one diagnosis such as co-infection with TB, cancer and other chronic conditions.

Hospices have a very long history of providing care to HIV Patients.

They were one of the first organisations to start to respond to the HIV pandemic - long before anti-retrovirals (ARVs) were available. According to Bishop Kevin Dowling, who worked with the Tapahoho Hospice: “Back then the HIV epidemic was calling for holistic end of life care in the most challenging of conditions, shocking conditions, and this holistic care had to embrace every facet of the life of the person and their psyche, including the spiritual dimension of dying people who had no hope at all because they were succumbing to Aids-defining diseases for which there was no remedy yet. This holistic end of life care in those conditions was, in fact, palliative care”.

ARVs have changed the face of the disease, with those who start on it, and stick to it, often living healthy lives. Yet there is still a stigma around the disease that prevents many people from getting tested.

Hospices have reports from those who have a minimal support structure in their life of their fear of discrimination and rejection in their families when they are informed that the test has shown they are HIV positive. People also have fears and anxieties about their future when they are diagnosed with HIV. Women can be fearful about informing their partners on whom they may depend for survival, and sometimes fear bringing ARV drugs home in case they are discovered. And if you are desperately poor, it is very difficult to find adequate, nourishing food.

And still, the death rate at Tapoloho Hospice dropped from 36% in 2004 to 2% in 2019, which signifies the move from a death sentence to a life-threatening illness with the provision of ARVs.

Today the focus is on keeping patients in care, bringing back patients that stopped treatment to care and supporting them though their journey. “While we know that ARV’s change the dynamic of the disease, we believe that ARV therapy alone is not enough,” says Ewa Skowronska, CEO of the Hospice Palliative Care Association. “Holistic care that includes psychosocial, spiritual support and bereavement are all needed to offer people a better quality of life and to help them comply with the medication schedule. It’s a complicated disease as it carries with it the psychological challenge of a lifetime on medication and combatting stigma. A support system that assists people to mentally and emotionally work with the diagnosis is really important.

“Hospices care for patients of all ages, including teenagers. Some of them may have got infected via MTCT (Mother to Child Transmission) at birth or later in life. Some of the hospices care for the Orphans of parents who were hospice patients and who died of AIDS. They monitor their health, school performance, helping with navigating the social system of grants and reduced fees, provide nutritious meals and support those children psychologically so that they can effectively participate in a future healthy life and embrace optimal living.”

Says Zodwa Sithole, Head of Advocacy of CANSA: “HIV infection can lead to a weakened immune system and a lower number of CD4 cells that help fight viruses, such as human papillomavirus and Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus. A stronger immune system provides very important protection against many types of cancer. It’s important that people take all of their medications on schedule and not skip doses. If you do have both HIV and cancer, palliative Care can help by managing your symptoms and treatment side effects. These include pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, depression, anxiety, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Palliative care provides extra support from a dedicated team of specialists to help you or a loved one get through a serious illness.”

Today Hospice care aims to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of patients diagnosed with a life-threatening or life-limiting condition. It helps people live as fully and as well as they can to the end of their lives, however long that may be and when the times comes, to support dignity in dying.

About the HPCA**

The Hospice Palliative Care Association (HPCA) is a registered NPO in South Africa. Founded in 1987, the HPCA is a member organisation for South African hospices. As a national charity, the association champions and supports more than 108 member organisations that provide hospice services to more than 120,000 people per year. There are nine regional hospice associations that are members of the Hospice Palliative Care Association, representing each province in the country. These are located in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Kwazulu-Natal, Free State, Northern Cape and the North-West province. The Association of Northern Hospices represents hospices in Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga. www.hpca.co.za

About hospice**

HPCA’s mission is to promote quality in life, dignity in death and support in bereavement for all living with a life-threatening illness – which includes Covid-19. This entails providing medical care, psychosocial care, and spiritual support, as well as end-of-life support. Each hospice has a multidisciplinary health care team that includes a medical doctor, professional nurse, social worker and home-based carers. All hospice staff are trained in palliative care which aims to ensure a good quality of life for patients who have been diagnosed with life -limiting illnesses and to prevent and relieve unnecessary suffering. Care also extends to families, especially after their loved ones have died and as they process their grief. Hospices provide holistic care to people affected by life-threatening diseases, regardless of whether they can afford to pay for this or not. To date only 18% of patients who need palliative care are able to access these services.

About CANSA

CANSA offers a unique integrated service to the public and to all people affected by cancer. CANSA is a leading role-player in cancer research and the scientific findings and knowledge gained from our research are used to realign our health programmes, as well as strengthen our watchdog role to the greater benefit of the public. Our health programmes comprise health and education campaigns; CANSA Care Centres that offer a wide range of care and support services to those affected by cancer; stoma and other clinical support and organisational management; medical equipment hire, as well as a toll-free line to offer information and support. We offer a Tele Counselling service in seven languages free of charge and we also supply patient care and support in the form of 11 CANSA Care Homes in the main metropolitan areas for out-of-town cancer patients and CANSA-TLC lodging for parents and guardians of children undergoing cancer treatment.

Visit www.cansa.org.za or contact the nearest CANSA Care Centre, call CANSA toll-free 0800 22 66 22 or email: info@cansa.org.za. In addition to online resources and Facebook support groups, CANSA offers multi-lingual support on WhatsApp: 072 197 9305 for English and Afrikaans and 071 867 3530 for isiXhosa, isiZulu, siSwati, Sesotho and Setswana and free Tele Counselling per appointment on 0800 22 66 22 in English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu, siSwati, Sesotho and Setswana. Follow CANSA on Facebook: CANSA The Cancer Association of South Africa, Twitter: @CANSA, Instagram @cancerassociationofsouthafrica, LinkedIn and Pinterest