AN attempt to make healthcare accessible for the community of Asherville turned into a moment of heartbreak for the Mediskills Healthcare Foundation.

The non-profit organisation’s vital medical equipment was stolen, threatening their ability to continue providing essential healthcare services to vulnerable residents. 

Also read: Nurses honoured for acts of service

The theft occurred during an outreach event at the David Landau Hall, where the foundation had been offering healthcare assistance to community members.

Allison Andrews, the foundation’s founder, discovered that a bag containing the medical equipment used during their programmes had disappeared.

“We are a group of female nurses, and we had just finished our outreach and while we had been waiting for an Uber to transport us, there was a group of guys who kept troubling us for various things. We instantly became wary about the situation because there was no security nearby. While we were getting into the transport the one bag had been swiped, we believe by one of the guys who were troubling us,” said Andrews.

Also read: Pensioners put health and fitness first

She said she is heartbroken and despondent after experiencing this. 

“It was mainly sponsored equipment, and a few items were bought. There is no insurance on the sponsored equipment. This has such a devastating impact on my outreach work,” she said. 

Help the organisation help others

Following the incident, the foundation issued an urgent appeal to individuals and businesses for assistance in replacing the stolen items

The stolen items included:

• Blood pressure monitors
• Glucose testing machines
• Glucose strips
• Disposable gloves
• HIV test kits
• First-aid supplies. 

For many years, the Mediskills Healthcare Foundation has conducted community outreach programmes across Durban, delivering health education, screening, and support services to underserved communities. The foundation relies heavily on donations and sponsorships to sustain these initiatives.

To donate:

To donate or sponsor any of the needed equipment, contact Allison Andrews on 081 307 1573. 

For more Southlands Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox.