Baylor Eswatini

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In 2006, an adult support group was established to empower caregivers of Baylor-Swaziland paediatric patients. The support group plays a pivotal role in ensuring continuum of care to the children and adolescents. Whilst the majority of caregivers face financial challenges to make it to monthly meetings, interestingly, a relatively small proportion has not been deterred from attending. For a while, the clinic's tireless efforts to find financial assistance from corporate companies to aid the support group were not successful. 

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Then, in December 2014, two companies responded to our request on behalf of the support group on a Christmas donation of any kind. The BTS Company donated food items comprising of beans and samp. The Swazi Observer, a local newspaper, donated 50 pairs of shoes. The clinic appreciated this kind gesture and apportioned the beans, samp, and a pair of shoes to each caregiver. 

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The Baylor-Swaziland staff has over the years also donated food items to make food parcels as Christmas gifts for the children and their family members. The clinic encourages the committed caregivers, who, despite transport fee hikes, were determined to attend monthly meetings. There is need to explore other income generating projects as the current one, the production of fabric softener, does not make much profit.