London project offers hope to rough sleepers with TB

Image: SJOG

Olallo House is a unique project in London run by the St John of God Hospitallers (SJOG) offering a place of warmth and safety to rough sleepers with 'complex needs' in particular those going through treatment for tuberculosis. Director Pawel Zabielski writes:

Friday 24 March is World TB Day - commemorating the date in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch announced the discovery of the bacillus (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that causes TB. In spite of improved treatments, 140 years later, TB remains a worldwide concern. In many countries, it remains a major cause of ill-health and mortality.

While London remains the area of highest TB incidence in England, accounting for 35% of all people with TB in 2020 and over double the national rate, case numbers continue to decline. In 2020 1,464 people notified with TB, a rate of 16.3 per 100,000 of the population. This was a drop of more than half from the peak in 2005 (45.9 per 100,000).

( https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1097613/TB-London-2020-data.pdf )

It is almost 11 years since we welcomed the first guest with TB to Olallo House, and became a small but crucial part of the forces that contributes in the fight to eliminate TB.

Olallo's TB service even has been recognized in 2021 for all our work in the London Homelessness Awards and the Homeless Link Excellence Awards and there was research published: 'Outcomes of a residential respite service for homeless people with tuberculosis in London, UK a cross-sectional study' ( https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17579139221093544 )

But why? Why Olallo House-SJOG? Why TB? Why do we continue the work?

I have simple answers! Because we follow the example founder St John of God! Because we living our values (Hospitality, Compassion, Respect)! Because there was a great need.

Prof Al Story, PhD FFPH MPH RGN, Find&Treat Clinical Lead and Consultant in Public Health Medicine at University College Hospital's NHS Foundation Trust, said: "I was aware of the charity's work with some of the most vulnerable destitute rough sleepers who were being excluded from accessing mainstream services. SJOG were driven by compassion and hadn't let the nonsense of political rules overshadow basis human need and dignity. They were and are perfect NHS partners"

Philip Windish, TB Outreach Worker at Find&Treat commented: "Olallo House has consistently provided the best possible care and continued support for TB patients who have nowhere else to turn.

"The staff at Olallo House provide unrivalled pastoral care for those TB patients who cannot receive help from the state and have limited access to social networks.

"When my TB patients secure accommodation at Olallo House, I know they will be receiving a Gold-Standard level of support throughout the trials and tribulations of their treatment. Walking through the doors of Olallo House, one is always struck by the lack of formality - it is less an institution, more a home. Their dedicated and multi-faceted staff team present a multi-dimensional approach to TB care which transcends the mere 'meds and meals' model and considers integration, opportunity and hope for patients once they have successfully completed treatment.

"Olallo House is more than just a warehouse for destitute TB patients. It is nurture, it is family, it is love."

SJOG Hospitaller Brothers: Br Malachy and Br John, said they started doing this work because: "others didn't want to do it. We saw the need for it and because of the need for it, we went for it"

My team and I have discussed at our today team meeting what it means for us to work with individuals with TB. The outcome of the discussion made me, as the manager of the service; very proud as the outcome I can summaries in one paragraph.

"Working with individuals with TB, is a new experience. We understand the sadness people feel when they are rejected by society and family. We have a sense of duty and know the risk if we do not take the responsibility to fight this terrible disease. We want to eradicate the stigma of TB in the whole of society."

To support the work of Olallo House, see: www.justgiving.com/campaign/SJOGOlallo