Before exploring Africa, I had worked in Independent Midwifery practice in Cape Town, State Sector Midwifery within the Peninsula Maternal and Neonatal network in Cape Town and had been involved in  Midwife training and mentorship from Undergraduate to postgraduate level in South Africa. I had also spent a few years in the UK working as a Midwife there, to learn their model of care.

My time working at KDH was interesting, eye opening and challenging all at the same time. As a midwife trainer my heart and energies were very focused on the Maternity wards and with the Maternity staff. Then Covid came and I found myself working with other departments and indeed the whole hospital as I was involved in both the Covid testing and Covid vaccine units.

Having been out of the South African health system for years and now returning, on one level I was bowled over by the structures and systems that were in place. On the other hand I felt heartbroken at seeing sometimes through lack of resources, lack of time, lack of staffing the quality of care that the patients received, this could be heart-breaking.

I left formal employment at KDH at the end of 2021. I felt frustrated and heart broken by many of the issues I saw that were happening in the wards. Despite being asked to please stay…. I somehow knew my time there was done. Well, for now anyway.

However, I remember saying to one of my consultant friends, I know I have left a piece of my heart here at KDH and I am sure I will be back, but I have no idea when or how that will happen.

In the last 18 months, I have got on with other projects, but my heart kept being drawn back to the situation at KDH. After talking, investigating, praying, dreaming, I realised what the hospital needed was a mechanism that would be a portal for many good things to roll into the hospital. A channel for volunteers, donations, projects, staff workshops and training. The possibilities could be endless!

And so finally in May 2023 after months of gathering a cross sectional Board with representation from Khayelitsha, good financial   and admin skills, and a great deal of passion to see change………., we are finally ready to launch the beginning of a dream, “ Friends of Khayelitsha District Hospital”.

A dream to support friends and colleagues in the hospital to be able to offer world class, compassionate care to every patient that enters the doors. For staff to feel supported, for patients to feel kindly cared for.  This is the goal.

The dream is about teamwork and collaboration across the board. Some projects will be large and change the way services are run. Others will be small acts of kindness making things better for 1 single patient – both are equally important.

Small things done with great love will change the world.

Mother Teresa