Swaziland – SOS Medical and Social Centres

In Swaziland there are currently two Social Centres and two Medical Centres for children and the local community, including those in Mbabane and Nhlangano.  Many SOS Social Centres operate via Family Strengthening Programmes, which aim to support the wider community.  Below is some information about some of the Social Centres that SOS Children runs in Swaziland:

SOS Social Centres around Swaziland: In-Depth

Mbabane

Description of SOS Social Centre/FSP:

The family strengthening programme offers access to essential services for children’s development (eg. educational, nutritional, health support, social skills) and supports families to protect and care for their children. The programme also aims at linking families with income generating activities and offers help to improve the parents’ parenting skills.

Work and Achievements:

Initial assessment was conducted to 209 families.   FSP was able to provide adequate diet and nutrition food to 214 children and 92 adults.  Two-roomed houses for two child headed families have been built by the end of the year benefiting 14 children.  A total of 84 children benefited from the health programme at SOS Clinic.  One sibling from Maseyisini community completed her TB treatment in December.  The assistance from the village mothers helped in her speedy recovery.  Fifty children were bought Christmas clothing for December and these came mainly from child headed and granny headed families.  School fees were paid for 140 children in primary education and 86 in secondary education.  Twenty-nine children were assisted to obtain birth certificate and national identity cards.   
One hundred forty-five children gained from the psychosocial support camp workshops which were held at different occasion and in different venue during the year.  A positive behavioural change to the children who attended the camp was noted.  Kids clubs in the three target areas were formulated and they have already elected their committees and started savings.  In December the programme bought some equipment’s which were requested by the clubs.   Two resources management were heard for the children.

SOS Medical Centres in Swaziland: In-Depth

Nhlangano

Description of SOS Medical Centre:

The SOS Medical Centre at Nhlangano in southern Swaziland gets approximately 17,000 patients each year providing primary health care and child welfare for orphaned and vulnerable children and their families in the local communities. The SOS Medical Centre Nhlangano has also run workshops with and for the local communities that it serves to advise on disease control, especially bilharzia, sanitation, hygiene and home-based care for the terminally ill. Around forty patients per day can be treated at the six treatment rooms of the SOS Medical Centre, which also accommodates an office for SASO, the Swaziland Aids Support Organisation.