PARTNERSHIP
WITH GIFT OF THE GIVERS BRINGS WATER TO TEACHING HOSPITAL
When a hospital has interrupted water supplies , the consequences are dire . Water that is essential for handwashing , hygiene and drinking , cleaning and sterilising instruments , laundry , cooling medical gas and suction compressors for patients on ventilators . The list is endless . It is clear that both the patients ’ health and the medical staff ’ s ability to provide quality healthcare will be severely compromised .
This is what happened at Kalafong Hospital – a 1 118-bed teaching hospital in Atteridgeville , Pretoria . The hospital was built in 1973 and services a large population of residents in Pretoria and beyond .
The University of Pretoria uses Kalafong Hospital as a training institute for the Faculty of Health Sciences . They reached out to Gift of the Givers ( GOTG ) with respect to water challenges at the hospital and GOTG agreed to step up to another issue that required humanitarian aid .
‘ We rely on stable water supply to service patients adequately and provide a safe training environment for our students ,’ said Professor Priya Soma-Pillay , the Chairperson of the School of Medicine at UP .
‘ As the Chair of the School of Medicine at UP responsible for training at our health facilities , I ’ m grateful to Gift of the Givers Foundation and Bonitas for hearing our plight . With consistent and reliable water supply we can ensure the health and safety of patients , staff , students and the proper functioning of medical equipment .’
GOTG began exploring the possibility of a borehole to supply uninterrupted water and partnered with Bonitas for funding . Drilling began on 20 January this year and by the 26 January they found water at 148 metres . The borehole currently yields 8 000 litres per hour and is literally a fountain of life for this healthcare facility . In addition , 8 x 10 000 litre water storage tanks have been installed .
Left to right : Lee Callakoppen ( Bonitas ), Dr Themba Hadebe ( Bonitas ), Dr Imtiaz Sooliman ( Gift of the Givers ), Professor Priya Soma-Pillay ( the Chairperson of the School of Medicine at UP ) and Dr Lebogang Mpshe ( acting CEO of Kalafong Hospital )
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Bonitas Member Magazine Issue 3 / 2024