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Gift of the Givers Unveils R60m Upgrade at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital
Gift of the Givers, a humanitarian aid organisation, is set to unveil a R60 million upgrade at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital on Thursday. The hospital experienced a devastating fire in its stores section, causing significant damage and hampering its operations for the past 25 months as reported by IOL.
Imtiaz Sooliman, the director of Gift of the Givers, expressed the organisation’s efforts to mitigate the impact of the fire by funding private ambulances to transfer patients to neighbouring hospitals. However, the extensive damage required extensive repairs and refurbishments to restore the hospital to its former state.
In response, Gift of the Givers took the initiative to construct a new storage facility within the hospital. A disused nurses’ dining room was repurposed for this purpose, with the approval of the Gauteng Department of Health, hospital management, and the Department of Public Works. The construction adhered to stringent fire safety regulations, resulting in a state-of-the-art 3,000m² medical stores facility in South Africa, the largest of its kind.
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The facility’s official opening will be attended by National Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, and Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, who will participate in the ceremony and ribbon-cutting. Earlier this year, an investigation determined that the fire was deliberately started as an act of arson.
In addition to the hospital upgrade, Gift of the Givers has played a significant role in supporting healthcare initiatives throughout South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. The organisation provided essential supplies such as personal protective equipment (PPE), medical equipment, and testing facilities to 210 hospitals nationwide. They also implemented various projects, including upgrading the NICD building, installing filtration systems at Rahima Moosa and Helen Joseph Hospitals, and assisting Tambo Memorial Hospital in the aftermath of the Boksburg tanker explosion.
The ongoing efforts of Gift of the Givers in South Africa encompass a range of healthcare initiatives, including catch-up surgeries and other vital services.
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Photo: Facebook / @Gift of the Givers
