Article source: Supplied
St Joseph’s Intermediate Paediatric Care in Cape Town – the only children’s Catholic hospital in South Africa – has just celebrated a remarkable milestone: 90 years of pioneering care for some of South Africa’s most medically fragile children. Established in 1935 by five German Pallottine Missionary Sisters, St Joseph’s continues to offer a unique and irreplaceable service — bridging the dangerous gap between hospital and home for children who are too ill to return home yet no longer need acute hospital care.
The anniversary was marked last week with a Thanksgiving Mass in St Joseph’s chapel, attended by patients, families, staff, partners, donors, and the wider Catholic community. Bishop Sylvester David reminded guests that “The spirit of this facility rests not in its walls, but in the God who works through all who work here.”
In a message in celebration of the 90th anniversary, Cardinal Stephen Brislin praised the institution’s critical role: “Thanks to the team’s specialised, multidisciplinary care – medical, rehabilitative, nutritional, emotional and spiritual – these children are given the gift of second chance. They learn to walk again, to speak again, to play again. And through the strength of a deeply Catholic mission, they are reminded of their God-given dignity and worth.”
Angel and Zachary’s Story: Why This Work Matters
Former patient Qaqamba Cuba – fondly known as Angel by everyone at St Joseph’s – was one of the guests who joined the celebration. Born with congenital scoliosis, a severe spinal deformity that led to breathing complications, Angel later required a tracheostomy to help her breathe with the aid of a ventilator. She spent eight years at St Joseph’s, where she not only received this specialised, round-the-clock care but also attended the onsite school from Grade 3 to Grade 7 during her recovery.
Now 26 and pursuing her master’s degree, Angel reflected: “The care I received here was very good. I also benefited from the on-site school… It’s so nice to come back and see that it’s still the same caring place.”
When 10-year-old Zachary was hit by a car, the accident left him brain-damaged and in a coma. Doctors stabilised him, but due to bed capacity at public hospitals, referred him to St Joseph’s Intermediate Paediatric Care for restorative and rehabilitative care. His anxious parents, overwhelmed with the acuity of his condition, had no idea how to care for him at home and were relieved that there was a place for their son to receive the care he required.
At St Joseph’s, Zachary spent six months receiving daily therapy, and his parents learned to manage his complex needs. Slowly, he began to swallow, then move, then speak. Today, Zachary is back at school and living the childhood that almost slipped away.
Filling a Gap in the Healthcare System
Every year, hospitals across the Western Cape face overwhelming demand and limited bed capacity. While they provide immediate, life-saving intervention and stabilise young patients, they cannot keep children long enough to deliver the extended rehabilitative and restorative care they still require. As a result, many children are referred to St Joseph’s Intermediate Paediatric Care rather than being discharged home prematurely or sent to community healthcare facilities that offer limited ongoing support. Without this crucial step of care, vulnerable children risk complications, repeated hospital readmissions, or even preventable deaths.
A comment from Raymond Foster, a grandparent of one of the young patients at St Joseph’s, emphasises its supportive role: “Our grandchild benefited from professional support and therapy that played an indispensable role in his development. We ourselves also benefited from the profound guidance and care provided to us as his carers during working hours. Congratulations on your 90 years and thank you for your love and endurance to see to the needs of children in need.”
It remains the only dedicated paediatric intermediate care facility in South Africa, offering 24/7 medical, nursing, and therapy support free of charge. With 175 beds and an average stay of 112 days, St Joseph’s serves around 300 children each year. Patients receive daily rehabilitation, on-site schooling, nutritional support, play and counselling therapy, while parents are trained to manage care at home when their child is discharged.
Proven Results: Healing or Dignity, Always
- 61% of children successfully return home to their families.
- 24% reintegrate with extended family when parents cannot cope.
- Many patients are admitted for palliative care. While mortality sits at 5%, children here receive dignity, comfort, and compassion at the end of life—far better outcomes than those discharged too soon.
Looking Forward: A Call to Action
St Joseph’s is deeply grateful for the subsidy it receives from the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, which makes an important contribution toward the care of our young patients. Yet this support covers only part of what is needed to provide the round-the-clock nursing, medical, and therapeutic care required. Each year, St Joseph’s must raise millions more to sustain this high standard of restorative and compassionate care. Without these additional resources, children risk facing life-threatening complications at home, and hospitals remain overburdened by preventable readmissions.
St Joseph’s calls on individuals, companies, and faith communities to be part of its 90-year legacy of mercy and healing. Join the 9 ZERO Challenge, share the story, or leave a legacy gift—because every child deserves a safe transition from hospital to home, or, where cure is not possible, compassionate care at the end of life.
For more, visit stjosephsipc.org.za.
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Date published: 26/09/2025
Feature image: Thanksgiving Celebration 2025 (Supplied)
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