About Us > About Our Area

The Umdoni and Vulamehlo municipalities are located in deeply rural regions of Southern KwaZulu-Natal. The region is home to approximately 148, 000 people.

 

Within South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal has the highest HIV prevalence level of any province. In 2008, 40%  of pregnant women attending the public health clinics were HIV-positive.The national average is 29%.

 

The major problems in our rural community are HIV, poverty and unemployment. HIV causes sickness and death of family members, the family social structure and support collapses, and socialization of children is affected. There remains a high level of denial of HIV and stigmatization of those affected.

 

The unemployment rate is 66% of the labour force, with many families being dependent on seasonal agriculture work and social welfare grants, and many families with no economically active person in the family.

 

34% of households have no income, 39% have an annual income of between R1- R9,600, and 26% between R9601- R15,360; 1% have an annual income above R15,360.

 

Rural communities are disadvantaged by a lack of healthcare and social welfare services, as these are not easily accessible to them. In particular there are few Home Based Care services for those sick at home.

 

Orphans and vulnerable children lack the identity documents which would enable them to receive government grants. The general standard of nutrition is poor. Many TB patients do not complete their treatment. Many families have no cash income and have insufficient food to eat.