Donors heed call to contribute to Covid-19 fight
“The fight against Covid-19 requires a joint effort by all sectors of society.”
The Gauteng Department of Health thanked all donors who heeded a call by MEC Bandile Masuku to help out in the fight against Covid-19.
The department said it was grateful for the support from BMW, Peugeot, Old Mutual, Wantai biological pharmacy enterprise, MTN, Samsung Africa, ECG clinical wear, Gift of the Givers Foundation and many others.
Health MEC spokesperson Kwara Kekana said donations ranged from personal protective equipment (PPE), transportation and communication devices to consumables, bedding, food and volunteers.
“Their donations will make a meaningful contribution.
“In addition to that, their donations will make light work of the screening, testing and tracing teams who are crisscrossing the province in a massive campaign to reach high density and vulnerable communities,” she said.
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Kekana said the department was also grateful to Old Mutual, who offered free life insurance worth R10 000 to registered healthcare workers.
“We continue to call on corporates, individuals and organisations and all compatriots to support the department’s Covid-19 initiatives.”
She said to donate, people can email covid19.donations@gauteng.gov.za or call 072-633-0515.
“It must be pointed out that the department does not accept financial contributions.”
Kekana said these could be directed to the Solidarity Response Fund by visiting www.solidarityfund.co.za.
“Once more we wish to thank all our partners for their generosity. Despite all the economic challenges, you have committed to saving the lives of our citizens through your contributions,” said Masuku.
This after the department called on the public as well as organisations to please donate PPE and ventilators.
“The fight against Covid-19 requires a joint effort by all sectors of society,” said Kekana.
He said these donations would supplement government resources and be used in special sites which are being put in place to house Covid-19 patients.
“PPE such as masks and gloves play an important role in minimising exposure to the spread of infections, while ventilators assist the breathing process when the virus has damaged the lungs.”
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He said according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Covid-19 caused damage to the lungs and as a result one in six people became seriously ill and could develop breathing difficulties.
“To alleviate this, a ventilator is used to push air with increased levels of oxygen into the lungs.”
The plea came after the health department welcomed a major donation of mobile handsets from Telkom and Samsung Africa to be used by contact tracers.
Thousands of healthcare workers were working daily and over weekends to trace people who came into contact with persons who tested positive for Covid-19.
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