Keiskamma Trust has been working towards the establishment of a step-down unit at Nompumelelo Hospitstal in Peddie-Town for the past three years. Early in 2009, the hospital made a ward available to us for the step-down unit and for nearly a year, the Keiskamma Health team has been in negotiation with the HIV AIDS directorate of Eatern Cape Province and Nompumelelo Hospital, working on the details. This joint venture is set to open in January 2010. The services offered are essentially what Umtha Welanga has been running for the past five years out of Hamburg – extended care of patients who have been prematurely discharged from Hospital but need care, either because their families are unable to care for them at home, or they need more time for education on the treatment of chronic disease.
