Saving Lives @Rahima Moosa Mother & Child Hospital

Each time I walk into Rahima Moosa Hospital my heart smiles.  There is still so much to do at the hospital given the crumbling infrastructure and lack of resources, but the heart of the hospital is beautiful and the hearts of the people that work there are even more wonderful.

Over the last few weeks we have been gearing up towards Mandela Day on the 18th of July and we have GlobalGiving's July Bonus Day also coming up on the 12^th of July.  So some exciting things to look forward to where donors are coming together to make a continued difference in this life-saving and life-giving hospital where the sacred spaces contained within the hospital walls, namely the wards and areas that we have renovated continue to make a meaningful impact.  Every time I pass the counselling room, the registrar rooms, the breastfeeding room and the Kangaroo Mother Care Ward and see them used daily by so many,  I am honoured to know that Footprints 4 Sam through the kindness and generosity of our donors continues to provide healing, hope and care to so many young lives.

Recently we have had tours with donors who are going to be joining us on Mandela Day to start painting and fixing up areas within the neonatal ward that we are still currently fundraising for, for the main renovation project.   However, ZAR 80 Million is a huge fundraising target and so in the meantime we are wanting to make certain areas usable and healing for babies that are currently surrounded by some rather sad and neglected spaces.

We have also had very promising meetings with the hospital board who are fully supportive of our main Beautiful Memories renovation project, with our architects and project team updating their documents to ensure that the flow and timing once the funds are raised are kept current.  

To date, our project team has already committed over ZAR 7.8 million in professional fees, on risk, to ensure the success of this key neonatal renovation project.

Each day we get closer to the dream of realising the complete renovation of the overall neonatal area, and so we ask that as you reflect on the life of Nelson Mandela and his birthday, that you might consider the gift that his life was to so many and help support us both in the July Bonus Day campaign and in the celebration of this incredible icon's birthday.

Thank you for all your support thus far.  We look forward to sharing Madiba's birthday month with you in a very special way, as we continue to bring dignity into these neglected paediatric spaces through your ongoing care and commitment, which leaves us in humble awe.  Your support also helps heal our hearts as July is also the month in which our son, Sam died – so this is truly a month for us where his legacy is even more sacred.

Thank you,

Melissa Platt

Sam's Mum, Co-founder and Trustee