St. Apollinaris is a 155 bed hospital built in 1938 on the Centocow Mission in Southern KwaZulu-Natal.  It was taken over by the Provincial Government in 1990.  It serves 150 000 people living in small rural villages and on commercial farms.  Patients come from an area which is 150kms wide, stretching from the Drakensberg in the North through to the Eastern Cape in the South-West. The main problems faced by the hospital are the poverty of the community it serves and the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Where are we situated
Centocow is 51 kms away from Ixopo which is the closest main town, although Creighton village in just 15 kms away form the hospital.  The Creighton community is supportive of the hospital and its staff and it is very welcoming and social community.  Various sports are offered in the district, there is a golf course and the nearby Mackenzie club offers social functions and tennis.  Aerobics, squash, dams for canoeing and swimming at the local school pool.  Creighton Primary School, a government school, is a shining light in the district.  The standard of education is excellent and small classes ensure full attention for our children, there are great opportunities for sport and culture too and it is a fully integrated multi-racial school.

The hospital is part of the Sisonke Health District and the hospital has been very active in new initiatives such as the production of a Scabies video and pioneered Mouth Care Packs for patients especially those affected by HIV/AIDS.Part of the road to the hospital is tarred while the rest is a good gravel road.  Pietermaritzburg is 90 kilometers form Ixopo and Durban a further 81 kms.

The hospital is situated in beautiful surroundings and the community and staff are charming, one immediately feels at home and most visitors comment on a special 'spirit' at St. Apollinaris.  There is a strong sense of service and commitment running through each department and these qualities make working here a pleasure.  Community service has recently provided us with a visiting dentist and full time physiotherapist and occupational therapist.

Activities at the hospital
There are also sport activities at the hospital like netball and football.  We have also got a very active hospital choir which obtained first position in the Regional Choir Festivals Competition that took place in 2001.  There are also classes of Ballroom and Latin American dance which are offered by the local community members to hospital staff at the Mission hall after 16:00 every  Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Local schools love to visit our hospital and visitors are always welcomed. Management has an 'open-door' policy and all spheres of Management are most approachable.  The Red Cross Flying Doctors are regular visitors and add invaluable support to the staff.

Friends of St. Apollinaris support the hospital, this organization began in 1993 to promote health, welfare and comfort of patients and assist at the hospital.

Please pay us a visit and see what we have to offer, we look forward to welcoming you!