St. Lucia Programs
Home Based Care (HBC)
St.Lucia Nursing Home through HBC programs in Baraa Ward, Arusha municipality and Moshono Ward in Arumeru District (a population of over 23,000 people) has managed to strengthen HBC activities and thus reduce the number of bed ridden patients and increase attendance of patients sick with opportunistic infections. Activities included home visits to sick people with chronic disease such as HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and the education of families on how to care for their patients at home and thus reduces stigma associated with HIV/AIDS. Communities have been trained on prevention of HIV, early test of HIV/AIDS. Through collaboration with HBC providers, community leaders and St.Lucia nurses and staff we have been able to identify a 25% susceptibility rate for HIV/AIDS in Baraa Ward. St. Lucia provides complete training for HBC including practical work in villages
Orphanage for HIV/AIDS Children
St.Lucia currently is taking care of 16 children ranging from ages 2 to 15 years. They are receiving medical care including check ups for CD4 count, Tuberculosis and ART management. These children go to kindergarten and primary schools, with only 1 in secondary school.
Inpatient Care for Abandoned Adults or Terminally Ill
Despite the strengthened HBC activity within the communities, there are still poor and discriminated patients who need care to sustain their lives or allow them to die in peace. The services provided include medical and general nursing care (feeding, bathing, massage, turning of patients etc), nutritional food and supplements. We also provide Antiretrovial and Tuberulosis management, palliative care and spiritual support. Psychosocial counselling is provided upon recovery to enable patients to live positively and adhere to medication and treatment. The aim of this project is to reduce death among adult patients, and thus reduce the number of orphans which is steadily increasing. This program has also helped in reducing stigma by educating communities on how to care for their loved ones.
Voluntary Counseling and Testing
This is done within the Center and in the outreach program by trained staff and volunteers (most of whom recovered at St.Lucia) who donate time to help by training the community on the importance of early HIV testing, and encourage them in positive living with the HIV virus.
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