Sasol gives R950k to community care programme
Company helps those suffering from HIV/Aids and TB.
SECUNDA – Sasol gave R970 340 to a community palliative care and support programme in the Govan Mbeki municipal area and joined forces with them to fight HIV/Aids.
With this programme, Sasol, in partnership with Project Support Association of South Africa (Psasa), aims at co-creating community partnerships in an effort to enhance the ability of home based caregivers to care for and support those infected and affected by HIV/Aids, ultimately impacting positively on the spread of HIV and TB.
The effects of the HIV/Aids pandemic continue to present a crisis to communities as formal health services lack the capacity and infrastructure to cope with the large numbers of infected and affected community members.
“In this light, Sasol gave the money towards the outreach programme to help build capacity to care for and support these individuals and thus assist to alleviate the impact in the communities,” said Mr Alex Anderson, head of Sasol Group Media Relations.
Ms Mashudu Ndou, Sasol Senior Manager CSR and Ikusasa, said: “Sasol ventured into this partnership with an understanding that if support is given to people infected and affected by HIV/Aids, with palliative home base care and support initiatives in our host communities, they will have a better quality of life, increased life span and empowered families who will be enabled through education and awareness on how to care for their families.”
According to Mr Anderson, Sasol through this partnership, aims at developing the capacity of coordinators and care supporters on palliative care and psychosocial support in order to care for those infected and affected by HIV/Aids and to improve their emotional and physical well being, promote behavioural changes through increased awareness on condom use, abstinence and faithfulness and also make reference to Sexual Transmitted Illnesses, Tuberculosis and HIV Counselling and Testing while monitoring treatment adherence.
The partnership, which began in 2008, has established home based care NGOs in the communities of Charl Cilliers, Kinross, Leandra, Bethal and eMbalenhle.
Phasa has reached hundreds of beneficiaries over the years, with the basic care package of palliative community home care services.
“Sasol is proud to be part of initiatives that truly make a difference to the communities close to our operations and will continue to take hands with partners to enhance the quality of life of our community members, especially those suffering from HIV/Aids and TB,” said Mr Anderson.
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