Cape Town’s premier opens Iris House Children’s Hospice

Categories: In The Media.

The Cape Argus reports that Iris House was opened on Tuesday, 14 April by Cape Town Premier Helen Zille. Iris House, a member hospice of the Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa (HPCA), started its work four years ago by offering their services in the children’s own home as it had no space of its own. With the help of the provincial government and the purchasing of a house, they can now provide these services to the 155 currently registered families who will be able to receive free respite care services.

With this new facility Iris House will now be able to give families a break from caring for their children around the clock. The hospice will provide day services to families of children with conditions such as cerebral palsy, autism and other severe neurological syndromes.

Sue van der Linde, who started the charity in 2011, says, “We believe that kids belong in their own family care. Our service will be that of providing support to these parents, giving them a break to go out and have time to themselves instead of caring for their sick child 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”  

In 2012, the provincial government provided funding to allow for the expansion of their services and to date has donated an amount of R1,7 million (Approx. US$140 000) towards the project. 

To learn more about Iris House and the work they do, visit http://iris-house.org/

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