UKZN Alumnus’ Organisation to Provide Personal Protective Equipment to 100 State Hospitals

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The Gift of the Givers, which was founded by UKZN alumnus, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, will this week provide 100 state hospitals with personal protective equipment (PPE) to assist in the fight against COVID-19.

According to an article published on IOL, the organisation will also provide front line ICUs with Hazmat suits and special protective intubation boxes.

Gift of the Givers said that private sector medical professionals will be included in this “protective” approach to “arm” medical professionals in our country to deal with the COVID-19 challenge.

‘Professional medical bodies battling to procure PPEs (due to worldwide shortages and criminally exploitative prices) will acquire the items from Gift of the Givers at cost.

‘Five thousand masks have started arriving on various flights this week,’ said Sooliman.

Gift of the Givers has erected 18 tents for triage in Chris Hani Baragwanath, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Northdale Hospitals. 

Sooliman described this method as ‘highly successful.’

He said the tent triage system aims to reduce contamination within hospitals and is extending to many more facilities.

‘COVID-19 testing sites will increase with eight facilities for private patients at the reduced rate of R750 opening in Pretoria this week. Our multiple partners ensure a turnaround time of 24 hours for results. With the new mode of testing arriving next week, the turnaround time will be 45 minutes. 

‘The ninth site, and our first at no cost for the public service, opens in Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital next week in partnership with the government.’

Sooliman said Gift of the Givers will fund 2 400 test kits as an initial contribution. 

‘We are in negotiations with public health in Port Elizabeth to set up a site for government, once again at our cost. Midlands Hospital in Graaff-Reinet which has been designated a dedicated COVID-19 facility in the region will receive extended support from Gift of the Givers. A dedicated vehicle to transport nurses between three test sites in the community has already been secured thanks to Isuzu,’ he said. 

In addition, 40 medical staff are provided with bottled water daily, and 44 SANDF members manning the “border” post in Graaff-Reinet are provided with food and water daily by Gift of the Givers. 

Thus far, 20 medical institutions, various emergency services, metro police, SAPS Pretoria head office and other centres, NICD and Immigration Services at OR Tambo International Airport have received FFP2 masks, latex gloves, coveralls, head covers and disinfectants from Gift of the Givers teams.

‘In addition to the protective wear, over 70 ventilators have been sourced with first option to purchase. Sourcing of video laryngoscopes is now underway. 

‘A dedicated vehicle, supplied by Ford, has been made available to Ahmed Bham, Gift of the Givers’ head of search and rescue, to visit key facilities dealing with COVID-19,’ said Sooliman. 

The toll free helpline for testing is 0800 786 911 while 0800 786 786 provides counselling related to the virus. 

‘In keeping with WHO and CDC recommendations, we have commissioned the production of material masks for free distribution to the public,’ Sooliman added.

•   This is an edited version of an article published on https://www.iol.co.za/

Photograph: IOL (Tracey Adams/ African News Agency)