For the past five months, Helen Bishop Home staff have not received a single payment from the government towards their salaries or expenses of the home. 

The Kimberley-based home has taken to social media to ask for help from the public with the purchasing of various items for the people living there.

“Sixty patients are being looked after by a skeleton staff, who also have to do the laundry, prepare food, see to the day-to-day running of the facility, and bathe and feed the patients,” said Northern Cape MP Lisa Schickerling.

“Staff members are also under stress due to the uncertainty of the situation and not being able to meet their personal financial obligations.”

Because many employees have not received their salaries since May, they are unable to report to work, which has resulted in the deterioration of the facility’s level of care.

This is the result of the health department’s late contract review and renewal, which has led to a delay in the money being sent to the NGO.

“However, poor planning and the delayed scheduling of engagements with the home, after the expiry of the contract, cannot justify the interruption of quality health care to the patients, nor the non-payment of salaries to critical caregivers,” added Schickerling

PA MPL Sharifa Ferris visited the home last week (29/7) to better understand the conditions after receiving the poster sent out by a staff member.

She also hosted a donation drive on Saturday (3/8) inviting citizens to bring nonperishable goods, and toiletries amongst others to the CBD McDonalds where she collected them before taking them to the home.

‘The home needs volunteers to assist with feeding children’

The home needs the following items:

• washing powder;

• toothpaste;

• roll-on deodorant;

• vaseline;

• green sunlight soap bars;

• biggest size children’s nappies or smallest size adult nappies;

• dry groceries or non-perishable foods;

• volunteers to assist with feeding children; and

• volunteers to assist with laundry services.

OFM News/Casey-Lee Anthony mvh