In the language of the Atterridgeville township outside Johannesburg, where more than 500,000 people live without running water or electricity, Leratong means the place of love. Leratong is the name given to the hospice founded and run by Belfast Passionist priest Fr Kieran Creagh, who was badly wounded when shot last year by intruders.
Now recovered and back, Fr Creagh yesterday greeted Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to a place that would not exist without Irish overseas aid, and individual contributions north and south of the Border.
"Regardless of what things you do, sometimes it is good to get a good leveller in life and come and look at a project like this," said Mr Ahern after he was shown around.
"Five people died here yesterday. Five," he said quietly, as he left the 18-bed hospice, which treats HIV/Aids patients from the township an hour's drive outside Johannesburg.
The 40 staff, some of them trained in palliative care in Ireland, are volunteers, while the hospice is now also receiving help from South Africa's National Lottery and mining company Anglo-American.
"The average patient is 25 years old and male. We treat people with dignity and with respect," said Matron Remiga Tlonbatla.
Four in every 10 men between the ages of 18 and 40 in the township have the disease, a figure that is even higher than the overall 25 per cent infection for South Africa as a whole.
"There is still a great stigma having Aids. People won't tell anybody, they won't tell their neighbours," she said, adding that Aids education is not getting through.
The work takes its toll on staff, and Fr Creagh, she said: "It tells on us. Sometimes you think that someone will come through and then they don't," she said, sadly.
The local community, she said, were "very angry" when Fr Creagh was shot "because he has done such good work . . . He got such a fantastic welcome when he came back".
The inspiration for Leratong came after the Belfast priest had been called many times to administer the Last Rites to people dying from Aids.
"I just used to be so sickened to see people dying in such poverty. Just treat people with dignity and love, whether you are a nip and tuck doctor in New York, or working in South Africa," he said.
Meanwhile, a new generator paid for by Irish Aid is due shortly for the hospice, which was without power yesterday as staff prepared for Mr Ahern's visit.
A new creche is also planned, again backed by Irish money. "Always when you get an Irishman involved you will get plans, and bigger plans and calls for money," said Mr Ahern, jokingly.
Over €100 million out of Ireland's total overseas budget is now spent on programmes to combat Aids, or to provide care for those left with the disease, or left orphaned because of it.
Having been welcomed by staff, Mr Ahern said they had "with smallish money" done extraordinary work.
"It is testament to the bravery of Fr Kieran that he came back to do the work that he had been doing.
"That requires a special kind of person to do that and we are glad to see him well.
"So many missionaries and NGOs face challenges in unbelievable circumstances. It would humble people. The nice thing about that is the real contribution that Irish people back home can make."
