Gift of the Givers round-up

GIFT OF THE GIVERS’ COVID-19 intervention

COVID-19 demanded a pragmatic response from a disaster point of view. Medical support, food provision, water availability and income-generation activities were all essential elements requiring intervention proportional to the need and, importantly, to the availability of rapidly diminishing resources.

By Imtiaz Sooliman CHAIRMAN AND FOUNDER, GIFT OF THE GIVERS

Gift of the Givers went into preparation mode on 11 March and immediately after

President Cyril Ramaphosa declared COVID-19 a national disaster on 15 March began to act decisively and cost-effectively.

By Monday, 16 March, private laboratories had been engaged to assist with PCR testing for the expected increase in infections. Gift of the Givers, using its influence, managed to secure a rate of R750 per test when the private rate was an exorbitant R1450. Prices at other facilities dropped to R850, a huge benefit to the public, ensuring that those who had contact with positive cases would do the responsible thing and test even if the symptoms and effect on their health were minimal. Cost-effective pricing encouraged private patients to test, which helped to avoid potential carriers becoming walking time bombs.

We set up testing facilities throughout the country and had mobile teams do mass testing for the SAPS, corporates, security companies and sports teams. By supporting smaller laboratories, not only did we save 15 jobs, we also created several more job opportunities.

The safety of healthcare workers was a non-negotiable priority. We simply could not afford to lose highly qualified personnel, with years of experience, to the coronavirus when there was already a shortage of trained medical professionals in our country.

Gift of the Givers’ procurement specialists secured large quantities of PPE from China and locally, ensuring that prices were not outrageously exploitative (understanding that worldwide demand had escalated cost), and that the products were of superior quality and would protect our HCWs adequately. More than a million masks, both three-ply and KN95, were purchased immediately, along with coveralls, gloves, Hazmat suits, head covers, shoe covers, goggles, visors and sanitiser.

The virus was tracked and those facilities at the epicentre were the first to receive supplies. Then followed noncontact thermometers, pulse oxim-

eters, scrubs and reusable surgical gowns. The scrubs and gowns were locally manufactured and spread across three companies to save jobs. We supported 200 hospitals and clinics nationwide with some or all of these items on an ongoing basis.

Next came the request for video laryngoscopes. The waiting period was prolonged, because they required importation, and eventually only 15 were available. We purchased the entire consignment and delivered them to the emergency facilities of select hospitals.

Hospital managers requested provision of tents for the purpose of triage, in order to ensure that no patient entered a hospital without being screened first. Gift of the Givers provided 37 tents at a cost of R3 million a month.

The increasing patient numbers necessitated additional bed availability. Gift of the Givers was against the idea of field hospitals outside an existing hospital setting. A large portion of the building and rental cost is non-recoverable once the facility is dismantled. In the case of a second wave the economic meltdown would not permit the rebuilding of such exorbitantly priced field facilities.

FROM EXISTING FACILITY TO A COVID-19 WARD

Gift of the Givers ‘shopped around’ and was approached by Mitchell's Plain Hospital, which offered a wing Imtiaz Sooliman, Chairman and Founder, Gift of the Givers

that had been disused for years. The Western Cape Health Department was incredible, providing five signatures in four days to authorise its conversion into a dedicated 60-bed COVID-19 facility; we duly renovated it in 30 days at a cost of R10 million. The newly named Freesia Ward could be mistaken for a private hospital; it already has 30 COVID-19 patients and is expecting several more. High-flow nasal oxygen machines were provided by Gift of the Givers.

Post-COVID-19 the facility can be used by any discipline. This type of intervention is a stepping stone for preparing existing health facilities for NHI. Building of new facilities is wasteful if existing facilities can be upgraded cost-effectively and diligently maintained thereafter.

PPE DONORS

MH HEALTH AND MOMENTUM METROPOLITAN GROUP

Working in partnership with Gift of the Givers, the group has established a drive-through testing facility at its head office in Bellville, Cape Town. It is also providing pro bono administration services to the Western Cape Department of Health with regard to its contracting of private hospitals for COVID-19 patient initiatives.

POLMED

Polmed, in partnership with Gift of the Givers, assisted in the free screening of 550 policemen at the FirstCare screening station.

DONATIONS

The following organisations and individuals have donated funds to support Gift of the Givers in mobilising resources as part of their efforts in the fight against COVID-19.

Suremed Health Thoneshan Naidoo (Medshield) Samsodien Family Phoenix Financial Services Group The Samsodien Foundation NPC

A second 120-bed facility was set up by Gift of the Givers at Bhisho Hospital in the Eastern Cape, but this time the renovation was carried out by the Department of Public Works, a wonderful example of a publicprivate partnership. Gift of the Givers provided the 120 beds and mattresses, 240 pillows, high-flow nasal oxygen machines and is in the process of sorting out patient screens and the tinting of windows.

The distribution of PPE continues, varied medical equipment requests are fulfilled where possible and millions of rands worth of medicine have been given to hospitals with more to follow. The SAPS, Defence Force, emergency services, paramedics, NICD, Department of Health, and Immigration and Customs at OR Tambo Airport have all been recipients of PPE from Gift of the Givers, given non-availability in the initial stages of the pandemic.

From a social perspective Gift of the Givers delivered 300 000 food parcels to those suffering extreme hunger in the deep rural areas of the country and supported 100 soup kitchens, We have delivered 600 000 litres of water per week in our water tankers since January 2020, supplied thousands of dignity packs, hygiene packs, pamper packs for new mothers and nursing staff, and have provided coffee and water for medical personnel where possible.

We are striving continuously to assist healthcare workers and the vulnerable, including foreign nationals, as best we can.

Over the last two years, Gift of the Givers has drilled 400 fully functional boreholes which have been of huge benefit during COVID-19. The borehole drilling programme is ongoing, as is the establishment of toilet facilities at many schools. In addition, transport costs for hundreds of loads of fodder to rescue animals, farmers and farm workers’ livelihoods have been funded by Gift of the Givers, which has provided food parcels for both workers and their families.