Financial challenges for Hospice
'Plans will have to be put into place or a major donor secured to avoid us digging into our reserves'
ZULULAND Hospice celebrated achievements for the year at its annual general meeting last Tuesday, despite some financial challenges .
‘There were many ups and downs, but we’ve had more more ups and did a little better this year, ‘ said Chairperson Louis Fourie.
For the period April 2015 to March this year, Hospice cared for 467 patients, including 61 orphaned and vulnerable children aged 17 or younger, 52 cancer patients, 257 tuberculosis and 348 HIV/Aids patients.
Income for the 2015/2016 financial year reached R2.8-million compared to R3.6-million the previous year, while expenditure rose by 3.4% to R3.2 million, leaving a R400 000 deficit.
The board expects to face challenges with the shortfall in finances in the upcoming years.
However, despite a year of ‘trying to keep heads above water as funding is more difficult to come by’, the organisation managed to replace its entire vehicle fleet.
‘We’ve managed to achieve what we had planned for at a time when NGOs are battling to get support. Not all can accomplish what we have,’ said Fourie.
‘We thank the community, staff and board members for their dedication to Hospice, without which we would not survive.’
The organisation is, according to Vice Chairperson Thami Ndlela, running at a monthly loss of approximately R100 000.
‘Plans will have to be put into place or a major donor secured to avoid us digging into our reserves. Sustainability through income-generating projects will have to be prioritized,’ Ndlela said.
Fourie was re-elected as Chairman, Ndlela as Vice Chairman and Donovan Barton-Hobbs as Treasurer, while and Hills & Associates will stay on as auditors.
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