Parking profits from Innibos to give emergency care
I know it was an inconvenience for people to pay for parking during the Innibos week, but in the end it is all going to a good cause
MBOMBELA – Many people complained about the inconvenience of paying for parking at Sonpark Centre during Innibos last week, unaware that the money would be used for a good cause.
On Wednesday Innibos and the Sonpark Centre handed over a cheque for R10 000 to Sanca Lowveld. The centre’s Kobus Jacobs said they felt they needed to give back, and this year decided to help the organisation.
“I know it was an inconvenience for people to pay for parking during the Innibos week, but in the end it is all going to a good cause,” he said. He handed Sanca the cheque alongside Innibos’ Sandra Jacobs.
Sanca Lowveld’s director, Marina Erasmus said the two approached the
non-profit organisation about three weeks before the festival. They suggested that they donate the money from the parking to a worthy cause.
“I thought it was a wonderful idea,” she said. “Currently we are struggling with emergency medical care. This past week we had a client come in who was in such a state of withdrawal that he couldn’t even walk. His nose was bleeding and he was coughing and vomiting blood. The hospital sent him to us, asking us to attend to his addiction.”
Erasmus said they immediately took him back to the hospital and asked them to check out his condition. “They phoned us again to ask us what they must do. It was a mess. We get this quite often, with people coming in and they have pancreatitis and are in extreme pain, so we send them around the corner to the clinic.
“One night I did not sleep, I thought I would not see the man alive again. He came back the following day and told me they just gave him two Panados.”
Sanca’s doctor pointed out that, if they had the correct medication, they could help with the pain. The funds from the parking will be used to obtain the medical supplies needed in emergencies.
“Our dream is to have a methadone clinic. It is a wonderful product. It helps people become functional, and we want to work towards that,” Erasmus said.
