By Melissa Williams-Platt | Footprints 4 Sam Co-Founder and Trustee
Dear Friends of Footprints 4 Sam
When we last spoke in March we were anticipating a third wave of Covid-19 in South Africa and as I write this project update we are now slap bang in the middle of another hard lockdown. The much anticipated third wave of Covid-19 is really knocking South Africa, as this time we are being hard hit by the really infectious Delta variant. Coupled with the Covid-19 pandemic, South Africa has also recently been rocked by massive unrest and looting across some of our major provinces. As a result of all of this craziness when tasked with this report, one thinks - gosh where to start?
Given the restrictions on hospital access due to the ongoing Covid pandemic, building and renovation work in the hospitals themselves has been very limited for the past 18 months. One of the other state hospitals we work with was also struck by a shocking fire recently, so this again delayed the renovations we had planned for them. The one positive was that due to Covid we had not been able to do the earlier planned renovation at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital and this was rather a relief, since when they were hit by this devastating fire, at least we did not then see all our hard work destroyed.
At Rahima Moosa Mother and Child hospital, the focus of this report, the fundraising has largely happened outside of this platform through our own Footprints 4 Sam World Giving Sporting Series - a virtual multi-sport app driven challenge series. This sporting series has been very successful, as well as a whole lot of fun. We mentioned this Challenge Series earlier this year and we would love to encourage the sporty people amongst you to please share and join us using the link that I will include in this report. The last 3 challenges have been aimed at raising funds for this key initiative, since the NICU renovation project is the biggest project that Footprints 4 Sam has ever embarked on and requires a long-term multi-pronged fundraising focus to make it a reality. We also have many professionals getting us to proposal stage with a workable architectural and engineering plan, done completely at risk, which is incredibly generous of all these amazing and dedicated professionals given the size and scale of the work involved.
So where are we? Our architects are still hard at work with all suppliers to get a final design in place - approvals are taking much more time due to all the current challenges in the Country. The hospital has also been challenged by water interruptions again and these immediate crises took precedence over all other projects with Footprints 4 Sam again stepping in to supply porter toilets together with one of our key donor suppliers.
We were also very proud to launch our Trachease programme at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital recently to help children who need a Tracheostomy to get home sooner instead of being exposed to months in hospital. (- Months that sadly may then lead to the death of a child given the risk of being on a ventilator long-term and the added risk of hospital acquired infections). This key programme involves training nurses and doctors via zoom. Through this essential training we were able to ready them to do their first ever Tracheostomy in a child younger than 7 months old. We are so pleased to say that the first recipient of this programme - a baby girl, is thriving and is now safely at home with parents that are now fully trained on trache care for their precious child who now has a chance to thrive and live a life filled with hope and dignity. (This programme has made us all smile for the past few months, which has been much needed!)
So although the actual renovation project is long-term, the day to day involvement in supporting this key hospital together with the amazing professionals that work there continues. In July/August we are also going to do another large bucket drop, since at this point toiletries for mum and child and food are a priority.
Thank you for being such an important part of our Footprints 4 Sam family and cheering us on from the side-lines. At this crazy time in our Country’s history, we desperately need the encouragement.
Trusting you are all safe and well, wherever you are in the world!
Warmest wishes,
Melissa (Sam's Mum)
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