HISTORY
1. History of Knysna Aids Council
2. History of Melrose House
History of Knysna Aids Council
Dr. Janet Stanford, who was then a staff member at the Knysna municipal health clinics, founded the Council in 1994. She was motivated in part by statistics which offered proof that the deadly epidemic had already arrived in this part of South Africa by the early 1990s.
Stanford organised a coalition of teachers, social workers and health professionals who started Knysna Aids Council in 1994. The following year the Council hired its first counsellors, at 10 rand per hour each, to start its outreach efforts in the community.
By then, the virus was spreading quickly. National adult HIV prevalence of less than 1% in 1990 soared to almost 25% within 10 years.
New data from South Africa show that HIV prevalence among pregnant women has reached its highest levels to date: 30.2% of women attending antenatal clinics tested HIV-positive in 2005 (Statistics from the Department of Health).
At public clinics in the Knysna area, 21% of women receiving antenatal care are now testing positive for the virus (Statistics for 2005 - Department of Health Western Cape).
Knysna Aids Council has grown in response to the crisis, and in 2004 moved to new, larger offices in Melrose House on Queen Street. The offices were donated by the Catholic Church, with monies for refurbishment provided by the Anglican Church.
By most standards, however, the Council is still a small organisation. At the beginning of the year 2006, it has just four paid employees. Now Knysna Aids Council has been blessed as we have expanded to 9 paid employees.
Millicent Seela, the director of the Council, joined the organisation in 2002 as a coordinator and administrator, and was named to her present position the following year. Stanford continues to serve on the Council's executive board.
With growth has come hope. There are now more than 350 people receiving anti-retroviral treatment from the ARV clinic at Knysna Provincial Hospital, which began prescribing ARV drugs in October 2004, Stanford said. That's helping to build awareness that AIDS is not necessarily a death sentence, but a chronic disease that can be fought.
Furthermore, believing strongly in the importance of knowing one's status and taking responsibility, Knysna Aids Council has been able to develop the capacity of offering free non-medical HIV testing and counselling to anyone in the Knysna area (since August 2006). The testing can either be done in the KAC offices or on business premises, schools, prisons, etc. The response from the community in the new testing facility has been considerable and so far KAC has tested 294 persons, with 270 testing negative and 24 testing positive.
KAC has achieved many great things over the years, but at the same time, Seela and Stanford said many challenges remain. A major problem is confusion among the public caused by mixed messages on HIV/AIDS from national politicians. And like other organisations fighting HIV/AIDS, the Council must still fight common prejudices and misconceptions about the virus.
"Some businesses are taking the epidemic very seriously and getting their staff trained in awareness and prevention, but there are a lot of other businesses that are still completely in denial," Stanford said.
Knysna Aids Council offers awareness and prevention workshops for area businesses and organisations from as little at R100 per person. For more information, please call the Council at +27 (0)44-382-0989 Top
History of Melrose House
as narrated by the KAC Ex-Chairperson - Ms Eleanore Bouw
Melrose House was built in 1881, originally the home of Maria Stroebel, the house soon developed into a commercial and administrative centre. It was first used by Standard Bank as Government Office, later as a courthouse, and next as annexure for permanent, boarders of the Royal Hotel across the road. In the 1920's it was given to the Catholic church and used as a home for nuns.
The German nuns taught coloured women needlework and ran a school for coloured children from here. It is fitting therefore that the "circle of history continues" as Melrose House continues to deliver service to the people, and specially address the needs of those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS through the KAC, Knysna Sedgefield Hospice, Knysna Child welfare and FAMSA.
Melrose house will cater for NGO's who need space for meetings, a training room that can accommodate 25 people, or counselling sessions by booking the space, within a reasonable time. Melrose House will not be a live-in care centre. The facility will be utilised by the St Boniface Catechism classes, AA meeting and KAC Support group, who have already started a food garden behind the House
Future plans for Melrose House is to have a fully equipped modern training room and a well stocked resource centre. Top
1. History of Knysna Aids Council
2. History of Melrose House
History of Knysna Aids Council
Dr. Janet Stanford, who was then a staff member at the Knysna municipal health clinics, founded the Council in 1994. She was motivated in part by statistics which offered proof that the deadly epidemic had already arrived in this part of South Africa by the early 1990s.
Stanford organised a coalition of teachers, social workers and health professionals who started Knysna Aids Council in 1994. The following year the Council hired its first counsellors, at 10 rand per hour each, to start its outreach efforts in the community.
By then, the virus was spreading quickly. National adult HIV prevalence of less than 1% in 1990 soared to almost 25% within 10 years.
New data from South Africa show that HIV prevalence among pregnant women has reached its highest levels to date: 30.2% of women attending antenatal clinics tested HIV-positive in 2005 (Statistics from the Department of Health).
At public clinics in the Knysna area, 21% of women receiving antenatal care are now testing positive for the virus (Statistics for 2005 - Department of Health Western Cape).
Knysna Aids Council has grown in response to the crisis, and in 2004 moved to new, larger offices in Melrose House on Queen Street. The offices were donated by the Catholic Church, with monies for refurbishment provided by the Anglican Church.
By most standards, however, the Council is still a small organisation. At the beginning of the year 2006, it has just four paid employees. Now Knysna Aids Council has been blessed as we have expanded to 9 paid employees.
Millicent Seela, the director of the Council, joined the organisation in 2002 as a coordinator and administrator, and was named to her present position the following year. Stanford continues to serve on the Council's executive board.
With growth has come hope. There are now more than 350 people receiving anti-retroviral treatment from the ARV clinic at Knysna Provincial Hospital, which began prescribing ARV drugs in October 2004, Stanford said. That's helping to build awareness that AIDS is not necessarily a death sentence, but a chronic disease that can be fought.
Furthermore, believing strongly in the importance of knowing one's status and taking responsibility, Knysna Aids Council has been able to develop the capacity of offering free non-medical HIV testing and counselling to anyone in the Knysna area (since August 2006). The testing can either be done in the KAC offices or on business premises, schools, prisons, etc. The response from the community in the new testing facility has been considerable and so far KAC has tested 294 persons, with 270 testing negative and 24 testing positive.
KAC has achieved many great things over the years, but at the same time, Seela and Stanford said many challenges remain. A major problem is confusion among the public caused by mixed messages on HIV/AIDS from national politicians. And like other organisations fighting HIV/AIDS, the Council must still fight common prejudices and misconceptions about the virus.
"Some businesses are taking the epidemic very seriously and getting their staff trained in awareness and prevention, but there are a lot of other businesses that are still completely in denial," Stanford said.
Knysna Aids Council offers awareness and prevention workshops for area businesses and organisations from as little at R100 per person. For more information, please call the Council at +27 (0)44-382-0989 Top
History of Melrose House
as narrated by the KAC Ex-Chairperson - Ms Eleanore Bouw
Melrose House was built in 1881, originally the home of Maria Stroebel, the house soon developed into a commercial and administrative centre. It was first used by Standard Bank as Government Office, later as a courthouse, and next as annexure for permanent, boarders of the Royal Hotel across the road. In the 1920's it was given to the Catholic church and used as a home for nuns.
The German nuns taught coloured women needlework and ran a school for coloured children from here. It is fitting therefore that the "circle of history continues" as Melrose House continues to deliver service to the people, and specially address the needs of those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS through the KAC, Knysna Sedgefield Hospice, Knysna Child welfare and FAMSA.
Melrose house will cater for NGO's who need space for meetings, a training room that can accommodate 25 people, or counselling sessions by booking the space, within a reasonable time. Melrose House will not be a live-in care centre. The facility will be utilised by the St Boniface Catechism classes, AA meeting and KAC Support group, who have already started a food garden behind the House
Future plans for Melrose House is to have a fully equipped modern training room and a well stocked resource centre. Top
