Pharmacy interns give the elderly a health check-up

Interns from Netcare Krugersdorp Hospital’s pharmacy recently checked up on residents of the Krugersdorp Council for the Care of the Aged (KCCA).

Alicia Klem, Assistant Pharmacy Manager at the hospital, explained that this was the first outreach of its kind and hope to visit the residents more often.

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They brought their team of nursing and pharmacy interns to test the residents’ blood pressure, sugar level, and more.

Kobus Garbers, the manager of the KCCA, told the News they are one of many non-profit organisations (NPOs) affected by recent budget adjustments of the Department of Social Development. He further explained that on April 6, they along with many other similar NPOs met with the department to discuss the 2023/ 2024 financial year funding.

Thousands of needy and vulnerable children, elderly, and people with disabilities will now receive limited to no welfare and social services because the Gauteng Department of Social Development has reduced NPO’s funding by R62.1 million,” he explained.

Although the News did report on funding being reinstated they are aware of NGOs that have not received funds.

Adding that the KCCA had received an official letter to state funding has not been approved because their services are not aligned with the priorities of the Gauteng Department of Social Development.

The KCCA has a caseload of 247 elderly in Krugersdorp and feeds 200 elderly a proper meal and this comes to about 4 000 meals a month.

We as an organisation request any form of assistance from the community to enable us to continue our daily feeding program to benefit the destitute elderly in Krugersdorp.”

You can help them by adopting an elderly. For R150 per elderly per month you can ensure that one person gets a warm nutritious meal every day.

If you would like to support them, contact 011 660 6354 or send an email to info@kcca.co.za for more information.