During the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic, claiming countless lives for both medical personal and patients, Cardiology is launching the Healthcare Heroes Appreciation Campaign.

In February, the month of love, we are aiming to bring hope and encouragement to South Africa’s HCWs by distributing 20,000 handwritten letters and cards of appreciation to as many HCWs as possible.

South Africa’s healthcare workers continue to face daunting physical, mental and emotional exhaustion, due to Covid-19.

According to Denosa, it won’t be long before all healthcare workers become patients themselves due to trauma, anxiety and depression.

“Simple acts of kindness accomplish exceedingly and abundantly good things for the human spirit,” says Benita Enoch, founder of the Durban based start-up, Cardiology Greeting Cards, South Africa’s first multilingual and culturally inclusive, social sentiments brand.

Members of the public are invited to submit their messages of gratitude via a specially created online portal: www.cardiologycards.co.za.

Once received, the letters and cards will be produced and delivered directly to those frontline health care workers, at each hospital, medical or treatment centre provincially and then nationally. Members of the public will have the option of addressing a letter or card to specific staff.

“We know these tokens will serve as a tangible reminder to each healthcare worker, that they are deeply appreciated for standing on the front line of our country’s wellbeing.

These are keepsakes, that will be forever cherished by the nurses, doctors and volunteers who receive them. We see these cards and letters pinned to noticeboards in the wards, acting as an ever-present beacon of encouragement. It’s something we envision a nurse or doctor taking home to their families to share in the joy of being appreciated.

Tragically, we’re losing healthcare workers in this pandemic. So, in a way, these keepsakes become part of their legacy, too” says Enoch.

Since the beginning of lockdown in South Africa, until December 2020, a total of 7 891 public sector healthcare heroes were infected with Corona virus.

There are no official statistics for how many in the private sector have been infected and succumbed to the virus.

Members of the public can participate in the campaign by donating R10 to submit a letter or R35 to send a card. Delivery to any hospital, in KZN, during this pilot period is free. The campaign will end on 28 February 2021.

“Appreciation builds the human spirit and that’s our mission. We are hoping this movement will resonate with South Africans and that they will propel it to become a national effort and include other essential services as well.” says Enoch.

Proceeds from this drive will be donated to Covid-19 relief programs.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram