On 1 July 2021 Dr Anita Parbhoo was appointed CEO of the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. She has been at the Hospital since 2008, initially as senior medical manager and then as the acting CEO since December 2020. Her skill and expertise will navigate new frontiers for the benefit of all our little patients.
“Having worked in child health services for over 13 years, I am well versed in the challenges faced by our children, and it is now a great opportunity to lead the institution in my new role as CEO to strengthen services for children in the Western Cape and the country,” she said.
“The Children’s Hospital Trust has been a great partner to the Hospital since 1994. Through generous and abundant offerings from donors, the Trust can continue the work they do at the Hospital. Currently, we are in Phase 2 of the Emergency Centre upgrade and expansion, and the Trust has been raising funds to equip the Emergency Centre with much needed life-saving equipment. I speak for all my staff when I say we appreciate all donations, because every contribution leaves a lasting impact on all the children who enter through the doors of our Emergency Centre daily.”
We at the Trust look forward to continuing working together with Dr Parbhoo and her team, and we congratulate her in her new role. We know that under her leadership, the Hospital is destined for even greater advances as a global pioneer in children’s healthcare.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Andrew Igshaan Gasnolar, only nine months old at the time, was rushed to the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital Emergency Centre in the winter of 1986, after a choking incident. With his life hanging by a thread, the medical staff responded to saving his life as well as tend to the emotional crisis his family was going through with dignity, respect and compassion.
“After saving my life, I have visited the Hospital numerous times, and I also volunteered at the Hospital, which partly encouraged me to start my own organisation, which focuses on alleviating poverty, education and feeding schemes.
“Had it not been for the amazing doctors at the Red Cross [War Memorial] Children’s Hospital, and the important work that it offers the community, I would not have been here today. I would not have been able to volunteer at the Hospital through its amazing volunteer programming or have been able to lend my voice and hand to social upliftment projects, peace-building efforts in South Sudan or contribute to building sustainable cities and communities. This would all have been impossible. Red Cross saved my life!” he says emotionally, and gratefully.
The medical teams at RCWMCH have no other motive than to support life. Every life has a path. Sometimes little paths become mighty avenues. And with help from the Children’s Hospital Trust and their generous donors, Red Cross can make more tomorrows a possibility.
Currently, the Emergency Centre is in Phase Two of its upgrade, and the Trust is only R3 million away from achieving its goal of R122 million. This R3 million will ensure that the Emergency Centre is equipped with lifesaving, state-of-the-art medical equipment. Your donation will evolve into a bigger impact because every little one counts!
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Drawing up a Will is about taking control of your estate and taking care of those you leave behind.
In South Africa we enjoy the privilege of freedom of testation. This allows us to choose how and to whom we wish to distribute our estate upon death A clearly drafted Will can ensure that the testator’s wishes are strictly adhered to and that their descendants are provided for. In the event of a person dying without a Will, their estate will be distributed according to the law of intestate succession. What this means is that legal beneficiaries that you may never have intended to inherit might benefit, whilst those that you did intend to benefit may be left without any legal entitlement to your estate.
Having a valid Will ensures that this is avoided. There are many benefits to having a Will, including the ability to appoint guardians for minor children, maintaining a record of assets that family members might not be aware of, limiting estate taxes payable upon death and recording important decisions regarding medical care. It is advisable to have a legal expert with the necessary knowledge and expertise draw up your will.
A valid Will also provide an opportunity to support a charity that you care about.
Leaving a bequest to the Children’s Hospital Trust is a simple, yet remarkable, gesture. Regardless of the form of the donation, the impact is significant.
The Children’s Hospital Trust is an independent non-profit organization which raises funds to support specific projects and programmes to help advance child healthcare through the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. The Trust raises funds for the upgrade and expansion of the Hospital’s buildings, the purchase of state-of-the-art medical equipment, new medical treatment programmes and funds the training of medical professionals across Africa – ensuring that the Hospital not only retains its world-class stature but is able to continue providing life-changing and life-saving care for children. The legacy of the hospital lies in the lives of its patients who grow up to become parents, teachers, leaders, friends, and healers in communities across our nation.
Charitable bequests are one of our most critical sources of long-term funding, enabling us to plan for the Hospital’s long-term needs, thereby ensuring its sustainability.
Furthermore, bequests to charitable institutions are also exempt from tax and may lead to savings in the estate duty payable.
Wills Week will run from the 13-17 September 2021. During this time, many legal practitioners offer free drafting of Wills to encourage the public to ensure that their affairs are in order. Contact your legal advisor to find out whether they offer this service.
Should you elect to leave a bequest to The Children’s Hospital Trust in your will, kindly include our PBO number (PBO 930 004 493) – for example:
‘I hereby leave/bequeath R_____ (or a specific item/asset/shares etc.) to the Children’s Hospital Trust, PBO No. 930 004 493, to be used at their discretion (unless you would like it to be allocated to a specific area).
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
