Mission Statement
We are Christian professional nurses who will, together with those whom we train as caregivers, minister to a dying, hurting and suffering world. Our purpose is to bring health, wholeness and spiritual freedom through the love of Jesus.

Statement of No Compromise
Tabitha will care for and minister to any human being in need with the understanding that the gospel of Jesus Christ will not be compromised.

About Tabitha Ministries
Tabitha Ministries started in May 1998, and has developed many aspects of assistance into the community and urban areas around Pietermaritzburg.

We are Christian based and concentrate on programmes such as caring for those that are affected and infected with HIV/AIDS, both adults and children, with Community Patients and children from Child-Headed Households being a major focus.

Resident at the Hope Centre, we have orphaned and abandoned children ranging from birth to 6 years of age, most of the orphaned children are without any kind of family support and are solely reliant on Tabitha Ministries. The Hope Centre has required extensive restoration and is now fully operational.

We furthermore provide a pediatric clinic in partnership with Grey’s Hospital to the children, a Psychologist who visits weekly and a School that assists with education. It is vitally necessary to improve the quality of health and the well being of the children, both in the community and at the Hope Centre.

Tabitha Ministries is a genuine example of the support and interaction between organizations in Pietermaritzburg, in taking action to support and care for those most directly affected and infected by the HIV and AIDS pandemic.

The Problem of AIDS AIDS is a problem that affects us all. Every day we read of statistics designed to alert us to the ravages of AIDS.

Some noteworthy statistics:

- For the first time in our history, the number of deaths has exceeded the number of births in KwaZulu-Natal as a result of AIDS.

- In the the year 2005:

• Only 13% of South Africa’s population will reach the age of 40.
• 5 million of a total population of 44.8 million are infected with HIV.

But statistics only tell half the story. They do not convey the human face of the illness and its related affect on individuals, communities, and the nation as a whole. It is no longer enough to try to prevent the spread of HIV. AIDS is a reality that is here to stay and it needs to be addressed.

Health services are already stretched to their limits and many facilities are not able to cope with the demands currently placed on them. The only viable solution to address the AIDS problem is to mobilise communities to self-help health care.

Background
Tabitha Ministry staff is currently comprised of over 20 volunteers, including Home Base Carers in 3 different communities who w