South Africa News

Gift of the Givers supplying food to some Eastern Cape hospitals

The Gift of the Givers has officially opened a food distribution warehouse in East London.

The humanitarian organization says it aims to supply food to all the hospitals in the province.

Hospital bakkies and trucks came in their numbers to the newly opened Gift of the Givers’ food distribution warehouse, to collect food for patients.

Gift of the Givers’ founder Imtiaz Sooliman said, “as part of the official opening, as part of the service, as Gift of the Givers believe in service. We are supplying 42 hospitals from around the Eastern Cape for the food aid for the patients.”

“Many patients are hungry and of course we’re in contact and speaking in association with the Health Department.”

Sooliman says the initiative was initiated by the Eastern Cape health MEC Nomakhosazana Mesh this year.

“…She says look she will appreciate if Gift of the Givers be the partner with them, as we know there’s crisis of budget in government. And if any help we can do be a partner to them she will appreciate it. So, of course we’ve been supplying PPE’s, we’ve been upgrading hospitals and she’s been very grateful for it…”

One of the health employees spoke anonymously to eNCA when he came to collect food.

He’s confirmed that the situation in hospitals is dire..

He said, “we’re struggling to have food in these hospitals we’re working at because of the tender system and suppliers who do not deliver on time. Meanwhile, patients are going hungry and that’s what causes us to suffer.”

eNCA tried to get a response from health officials but they were not available. Instead, an official responded via Whatsapp denying allegations of food shortages.

The message reads, “the department has prioritized that there is food available for our patients.”

“The Department has confirmed that they are experiencing severe budgetary pressures. This arises, in the main, from historical lump-sum settlements of medical-legal claims, in the context of fiscal constraints.”

“The Eastern Cape Health Department appreciates social partners like Gift of the Givers, who are assisting in whichever way they are able to.”

Source: eNCA

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