Raising money to buy adult nappies

JOHANNESBURG Water has embarked on an outreach programme and staff gathered at the Steeledale Shopping Centre on Tuesday, May 17, to raise funds to buy and donate adult diapers for the elderly and ill.

The water agency headed the #nappies4dignity campaign as part of National Sanitation and Hygiene Week, from Monday, May 16, to Thursday, May 20.

Individuals, organisations and businesses were challenged by Johannesburg Water to donate and help spare the elderly and ill from the indignity of wetting or soiling themselves.

Locals in the South did not disappoint and started giving whatever they could afford by as early as 09:00, just outside the stores, with many taking it as far as snapping the women and sharing the photos on social media to help to spread the word.

According to Johannesburg Water, a typical elderly person or terminally ill patient who has urinary incontinence or similar health condition uses adult nappies and needs an average of three nappies a day. Most of them rely on relatives, pensions and social grants to buy them. Care facilities do try to supply those without the personal means.

On average a person in a hospice or old age home uses an average of three adult diapers a day. That equals to an average of four packets a month. Multiplied by an average of 40 people in a home needing adult diapers that could add up to an average of R25 000 a month that an old age home or hospice spends to buy these diapers. This has proved to be very expensive for care facilities to maintain.

Individuals, organisations and companies wishing to help can do so by phoning 011 688 1609, or by visiting the following Johannesburg Water drop off points: head office, 17 Harrison Street, Marshalltown, Johannesburg; Ennerdale, 2 James Street, Ennerdale Extension 1; Southdale, 91 Side Road, Southdale; Langlaagte, 2 Link Road, Langlaagte.