The Gugu Dlamini Foundation, based in Ntuzuma in Durban, focuses on educating women and children about HIV and AIDS and life skills. Over and above that, the organisation has an ECD and a composting programme that generates income for them. Through these programmes the Gugu Dlamini Foundation provides three healthy meals a week to 108 beneficiaries from the surrounding township. The food for these meals is provided to the Gugu Dlamini Foundation by FoodBank SA.
Due to the vital work that the staff at the Gugu Dlamini Foundation are doing fewer of their beneficiaries are defaulting on their antiretroviral treatment as they have the access to the food they need before they can take their medication. Recently, the organisation bought a scale which they use to weigh their beneficiaries when they start with their programme. They have already noticed that their beneficiaries have gained weight and are looking healthy.
One of their patients, who was identified through home visits, was very sick and was not able to leave the house to buy food or collect her treatment. After regular visits by the Gugu Dlamini Foundation’s home based carers, who brought her food and made sure she took her medication, the patient slowly recovered and decided she wanted to give back to the community. She is now one of the volunteers who work in the organisations community garden.