East Rand Palliative Care (ERPC), formerly known as Hospice East Rand joined the global hospice community on Friday, 11 October, in marking World Hospice and Palliative Care Day. This day unites people around the world in recognising the importance of access to compassionate, quality care for all facing a life-threatening illness.
This year’s theme, “Achieving the Promise: Universal Access to Palliative Care,” highlighted the collective responsibility to ensure that no one faces a life-threatening illness without support, dignity, and comfort.
For East Rand Palliative Care, this promise begins right here in our community. For over 40 years, ERPC has provided home-based nursing, counselling, and emotional support to patients and their families across the East Rand walking beside them from the time of diagnosis through every stage of a life-threatening illness.
“Palliative care is about living well, not just about end-of-life care,” said Jonquil Siepman, marketing and media liaison for East Rand Palliative Care. “It focuses on quality of life, pain relief and symptom control, and emotional and spiritual support for both patients and their loved ones. Our mission is to make this care accessible to everyone who needs it, regardless of their circumstances.”
As a non-profit organisation, ERPC relies on community involvement to make that mission possible. Every donation, volunteer hour, and purchase in one of its charity shops directly supports patient care and outreach programmes across the East Rand.
Achieving universal access to palliative care requires the support of the whole community. Members of the public can help by:
- Donating or shopping at ERPC’s charity shops and bookshop
- Volunteering their time or skills to assist in the shops or with ERPC initiatives
- Contributing financially or including ERPC in bequests
- Sponsoring projects or patient-care programmes
- Sharing information about hospice and palliative care to help raise awareness
Each act of support ensures that someone facing a life-threatening illness receives the care, comfort, and dignity they deserve.
“Access to palliative care starts in our own community,” adds Jonquil. “It’s something we can all play a part in by supporting local ERPC efforts, spreading awareness, and helping us continue to deliver care to those who need it most.”
For more information, to make a donation, or to find your nearest charity shop, visit www.erpc.org.za or contact East Rand Palliative Care on 0114221531.
