The Red Cross Emergency Centre amidst COVID-19

 

Ramadan is a celebration of love, sacrifice and devotion. It’s about compassion and caring, a time to reaffirm our personal commitment towards those members of our community who most need our support. Among so many others, they include the medical professionals and young patients at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital Emergency Centre in Cape Town.

The Emergency Centre is the only paediatric centre in Southern Africa operating 24 hours, 7 days a week, providing high quality, evidence based medical, surgical, nursing and paramedical services. As such, it is the first destination for families whose children need immediate medical care invariably after having suffered severe trauma.

At just three weeks old Nurah Adams, was rushed to the Emergency Centre due to severe dehydration. Nurah’s mum and dad, Shaakirah and Loukmaan, initially had doubts about going to the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital as opposed to a private hospital, but when they arrived, Nurah received immediate attention and world-class treatment.

Rafeeq Williams’ story is an equally compelling testament to the world-class calibre of the Hospital’s Emergency Centre. This youngster was rushed to the Emergency Centre after a traumatic fall at his grandmother’s house while playing with his brother and cousins. The impact split his arm into three pieces, but he was soon on his way to recovery after the Emergency Centre staff stepped in to operate.

Of course, world-class medical care of this calibre on this scale costs money. With this in mind, the Children’s Hospital Trust (CHT) has embarked on a major fundraising drive for the Emergency Centre’s much-needed upgrade and expansion that will cost R122 million. Construction began in April 2019 with Phase 1 due for completion in July 2020 and Phase 2 in October 2021.

“We’re pleased to say that, thanks to our generous donors, we’re more than halfway to reaching our target and now need to raise R 47 620 458”, said Chantel Cooper, CEO of CHT. “By supporting our Ramadan appeal, you too will directly benefit around 45 000 seriously ill and injured children, like Nurah and Rafeeq, who visit the Emergency Centre each year. 100 percent of the donations received will go directly to the project and donors are eligible for a Section 18 A Tax Certificate.”

Right now, your support matters more than ever

Remember, Ramadan is traditionally a time to reaffirm one’s personal commitment towards uplifting those members of the community who most need our support. And this Ramadan, all those associated with the Hospital need your support more than ever.

Like all South Africans, they are facing unprecedented turbulence as the COVID-19 crisis continues to unfold. The crisis comes at a time when the Hospital is also in the middle of the annual paediatric surge season. This is the daunting period from November to May when there is typically a spike in the number of children admitted with gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses. These illnesses are primarily caused by overcrowding and a lack of clean water and sanitation. With their weakened immune systems, this intake of patients will be even more vulnerable to the coronavirus.

We would like to salute the Hospital staff for their dedication and resilience in the face of such formidable challenges. We trust their expertise and careful preparations, including logistics for social distancing measures in the Emergency Centre and wards, will ensure patients, their families and carers remain as safe as possible.

While the future remains uncertain, there has never been a more important time to support this Sadaqah Jariyah to upgrade and expand the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital Emergency Centre. To donate, visit  www.chtrust.org.za/donate or call 021 686 7860.

Also, be sure to tune in to the Children’s Hospital Trust Pledge-A-Thon on ITV at 21h00 on Sunday 17 May to find out more about how you can uplift the lives of young patients, their families and the dedicated medical staff who care for them.