Leratong Hospice to Belfast
Sharing Stories of Great Missions
By Sarah Dobson
(The Irish News Monday 14th March 2005)

Volunteers from a hospice in South Africa founded by Belfast priest, Father Kieran Creagh, yesterday shared their experience with congregations at Holy Cross Church in north Belfast.

Speaking at morning masses in the parish, the six nurses and one doctor from Leratong Hospice near Pretoria, explained how their work is changing communities in the area.

The hospice officially opened October last year, the same month Fr Creagh won the prestigious International Person of the Year award for his pioneering work with victims of HIV.

Remigia Tloubatla, the hospice's matron, said although her team cares for all terminally ill patients, the vast majority have been infected with HIV/Aids.

"We have been open for seven months and so far we have admitted 89 patients with HIV and almost half of them have died," she said.

"Many who, have, a positive outlook on life do get better and can live lives back in the community.

"Others, however, do not accept they even have the virus because it has such a stigma attached to it."

All the workers are volunteers, dedicated to helping rebuild the lives of individuals with terminal illness.

"It takes a special type of person to work in a hospice and it can be depressing. We want people really to be aware that we have not got free access to medication and hospital equipment. We would really like support especially with hospital supplies," Mrs Tloubatla said.

"We are all retired nurses so we manage with a small pension but one young woman works for us because she has a passion for the hospice."

Holy Cross Parish Curate, Father Gary Donegan, who trained with the hospice's founder, Fr Kieran Creagh, said he was not surprised to hear of his colleague's mission. "He was always a guy with vision. He was ambitious and very driven," he said.

"But he's a very down-to-earth person, just an ordinary guy, doing extraordinary things and he really needs our continued support."

Donations to the hospice can be made through Friends of Leratong on 028 9071 7635 or through the Bank of Ireland, High Street, Belfast, sort code 90-21-27, account number 12779453.