It takes a village: Collaboration in healthcare changes children’s lives
On Friday, 14 March 2025, Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness, Mireille Wenger, visited St Joseph's Intermediate Paediatric Care Centre in Montana, in Cape Town. Established in 1935 by the Missionary Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate Pallottine, St Joseph's is a long-standing and valued NGO partner of the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness. The centre provides essential transitional and palliative care to children in need, including those living with TB, ensuring they receive the specialised support necessary for their recovery and well-being.
Every year, March is internationally recognised as TB Awareness Month. One of the key objectives of the provincial government’s TB Recovery Plan is to support patients throughout their treatment journey—a mission that St Joseph’s fulfils for children living with TB. In fact, more than half of the children receiving care at the centre are referred due to infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and TB.
For more than 50 years, the province has worked closely with St Joseph’s to sustain its vital mission—a place where healing and hope come together for countless children and their families. The centre provides a holistic, child-centred environment that is both safe and nurturing, giving children with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions the opportunity to heal and reintegrate into their homes, schools, and communities at their optimal levels of functioning.
Children from across the Western Cape are referred to St Joseph’s, primarily from hospitals such as Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, Tygerberg Hospital, and Groote Schuur Hospital. The facility also provides specialised care for children with respiratory, cardiac, and neurological conditions, as well as those who have suffered trauma and malnutrition.
Minister Wenger expressed her deep admiration, saying, “I am truly blown away by the thoughtful care that each child receives at St Joseph’s. The scope of care goes beyond the physical and considers the child’s emotional, spiritual, and psychological well-being, ensuring both them and their families are supported. The multi- and interdisciplinary team here works with one shared goal—to see children return home and reintegrate into their communities.”
St Joseph’s is more than a medical facility—it is a place of holistic support, staffed by a dedicated team that includes full-time nurses, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, dietitians, occupational therapists, social workers, child and youth care workers and medical doctors. Recognising the importance of education in a child’s development, the centre also provides an on-site early childhood development (ECD) centre and a special needs school. The Western Cape Education Department works closely with St Joseph’s to facilitate ongoing mainstream schooling so that children can continue learning while on their healing journey.
Chief Executive Officer of St Joseph’s, Christelle Cornelius, reflected on the impact of the centre which has provided free transitional care to thousands of vulnerable children and their families for nine decades. She said, “For our patients and the many parents who stay with their children during this difficult time, St Joseph’s becomes an oasis—a place of strength and security. I am continually inspired by the resilience and courage of these children. Even in the most challenging circumstances, their laughter and joy fill this space with hope. We know that children belong at home, so we work closely with parents to educate and support them in taking care of their children. On average, patients stay with us for six months, and we want to make sure their time here is as enriching and supportive as possible.”
Minister Wenger concluded, “St Joseph’s plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between hospital and home. And when children return home, they are supported by the broader health, welfare, and educational ecosystem. The saying ‘it takes a village’ has never been more evident than when families face healthcare challenges. Through strong partnerships between the provincial government and NGOs like St Joseph’s, we are not only protecting our children but also safeguarding their future. By working together, we can do more, reach further, and ensure that every child receives the care and support they deserve.”
Media Queries:
Robyn Thomson
Spokesperson for the Provincial Minister of Health and Wellness