A partnership between Cell C and Gift of the Givers recently resulted in the refurbishment of four clinics in Kariega. The clinics are Mabandla Clinic, Park Centre Clinic, Edameni Clinic, and Nomangesi Jayiya Clinic.
Speaking to UD Express, the Managing Executive of Enterprise Sales at Cell C, Farhad Suleman, stated that this initiative is crucial from Cell C’s perspective.
“With the wonderful work being done by Gift of the Givers, we are here to acknowledge the partnership between government and the private sector. As Cell C being upstanding citizens, we strive to find ways to collaborate with government to ensure the community’s basic needs are met.
We understand that our role goes beyond connectivity. We are committed to making an impact in our communities, and it is through initiatives like this that we can support and assist the community in whatever way we can. We have a long-term plan to improve the lives of the community by working with our partners to understand what our people require,” he added.
Gift of the Givers’ Programme Manager, Nithaam Bawa, stated that water supply is one of the major issues faced by KwaNobuhle residents. When there is water scarcity, the clinics cannot assist patients because it violates health protocols. To mitigate this, 10-litre Jojo tanks were installed in all four clinics with a plinth connected to the municipality’s reticulation system. This ensures that even if the tanks run dry, there will still be clean water available for the clinic’s use.
Bawa added, “After the floods in Kariega, we, along with Cell C, identified problem areas in the region where we could assist and recognised that clinics needed help the most. We installed a sheltered patient area for those who arrive early and have to wait in queues. This sheltered area will help patients stay dry in adverse weather conditions.”
This initiative was warmly received by the NMB Executive Mayor, Babalwa Lobishe.
Expressing satisfaction, she said, “We are very happy to see this partnership. Today, we managed to secure other projects that are yet to come. We, as the city, are very pleased with the improvements to the public health sector, as it means better accessibility to healthcare, even in unfavourable weather conditions.”
The teary-eyed Mayor thanked the partners in her address, saying that such partnerships are encouraged by the municipality since such substantial tasks cannot be completed without external support.
“The municipality can only offer better services to its residents if we partner with the private sector. We still have a backlog regarding infrastructure repairs and maintenance. We call for more partnerships like these to improve our city,” Mayor Lobishe added.
