Hospital Charity Organisation | Children's Hospital Trust

Despite the local and global economic crunch, fishing giant I&J has donated R500 000 towards the new Operating Theatre Complex under construction at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. This top corporate’s investment is critical in ensuring that the launch date of this mammoth building project stays on track.

The new Operating Theatre Complex, to be completed in September 2009, will be a state-of-the-art facility which will positively impact upon the lives of thousands of children undergoing surgery each year, as well as their families. New advances utilizing digital equipment allow surgeons to perform ‘keyhole’, minimally invasive surgery, reducing post-operative pain for children due to smaller surgical incisions. This improves patients’ recovery time enabling children to go home earlier. It will also provide a platform for training young surgeons from across southern Africa in modern surgical techniques.

An upgraded and expanded Operating Theatre Complex will assist surgeons to perform operations with greater efficiency to accommodate the enormous need in South Africa. The new facility will provide enhanced working conditions to attract and retain world-class skilled surgeons and medical staff.

Over the past decade I&J has donated significant funding towards priority projects at the Hospital equating to a cumulative donation of just over R4 million. Their projects include the I&J Children’s Centre in the Specialist Outpatients Department, the first ever Trauma unit as well as the current Theatres project. I&J actively encourages staff participation in its community investment programmes and since 1997 I&J’s workforce has raised over R750 000 for the Hospital.

Hoffman Geyer, HR Executive for I&J, said that the management and staff of I&J were very happy to be helping the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital again. Referring to I&J’s long relationship with the Trust and the Hospital, he said, "Many of I&J’s workforce have a close and warm association with the Hospital because their children have been treated there. Given the very special relationship I&J has cemented with the Trust and the Hospital over 12 years, it is fitting that we should again be part of the Trust’s latest initiative for the Hospital."

Nicky Bishop, CEO of the Children’s Hospital Trust, the Fundraising Arm of the Hospital said in reply that, "I&J has supported this centre of excellence for more than a decade and we are most grateful for their unwavering belief that sick children from all walks of life deserve the best medical care possible."