MTHULISI SIBANDA
JOHANNESBURG-ORLANDO Pirates, one of the country’s most successful football clubs, has joined forces with the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital (NCMH) Trust to increase awareness of the exclusive hospital ahead of its opening in December.

Officials said the partnership was borne out of a clear understanding of the need to raise awareness of this project, reaching South Africans from diverse backgrounds.

Coach Eric Tinkler has led the side on a tour of the hospital under construction in Parktown.

“South Africa is a country of sports lovers, and through the support of the Orlando Pirates we will be able to reach a much bigger audience that we would otherwise miss. As an organisation, we are open to support from all organisations, from all industries because we believe in the power of the collective to truly make a difference,” said Joe Seoloane Project Lead Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital

Thandi Merafe, Pirates Spokesperson, said the side felt it incumbent upon itself to give back to the community through the corporate social responsibility project.

“For this reason we were honoured to answer the call to partner up with the NMCH as we believe safeguarding the future of South African children through healthcare is a most worthy course.

“Therefore aligning ourselves with the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital is a great opportunity to align ourselves with this worthy course as well as an opportunity to honour the Madiba’s legacy,” she said.

Conceived by the late Nelson Mandela, championed by Chief Executive Officer, Sibongile Mkhabela, and built entirely from the donations from corporates, philanthropists and ordinary people, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital will be a child-centred high-care facility working on a referral only basis.

The hospital is help to alleviate the dire paediatric need, especially in areas of Cardiology and Cardiothoracic surgery, Haematology, Oncology, Nephrology, Pulmonology, Craniofacial Surgery, Neurosciences and General Paediatric Surgery – collectively called its Centres of Excellence.

Located in the Gauteng healthcare ecosystem, the hospital will treat children from the Southern African region regardless of their socio-economic status, and ultimately aims to build a strong referral network with all of South Africa’s major public hospitals.

It is the first of its kind to be built solely on the generosity of the world’s citizens, making it a unique partnership between public sector, the private sector and civil society.

To date R800 million has been raised towards the R1 billion that will be needed for building, equipment, interior design and training as well as other capital costs.

– Guardian