Photo by Gallo Images/Papi Morake)

Faizel Patel – 11/06/2021

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)

Following the dire water shortages in an around Johannesburg, NGO Gift of the Givers has announced that it has been granted permission to drill for water at another health facility, the Helen Joseph Hospital.

This comes after the organisation drilled for water at the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital earlier this month.

In a statement, Gift of the Givers Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman says the organisation has received total cooperation and full support from the Gauteng Health Department to drill for boreholes at these two facilities.

“The situation demands an urgent response as this is an emergency that affects the normal functioning of the hospitals now seriously challenged by the Covid-19 third wave. Water is critical for every type of procedure, for hygiene and infection control, and an uninterrupted supply is non-negotiable.”

Sooliman says drilling at Helen Joseph Hospital commenced on Friday at the first of eight possible sites mapped out by its geologist, Dr Gideon Groenewald.

“The drilling rig is on site. The presence of this incredible piece of machinery has created a new sense of hope, a morale boost, a sparkle in the eyes of health care workers and management at the two facilities as 23 days of inadequate supply is the last straw following two waves of Covid-19, load shedding and an additional patient load from the now closed Charlotte Maxeke Hospital.”

Dr. Sooliman says the progress at Rahima Moosa Hospital has been incredible.

“Gift of the Givers teams will be pumping borehole water into ten JoJo tanks and from there via booster pumps into the hospital water infrastructure. This will provide an uninterrupted supply of 130 000 litres which is the total hospital requirement per day.”

Sooliman thanked Implats for funding the entire cost of the Rahima Moosa adding that many donors have been coming forward to commit funding for the Helen Joseph borehole.

Sooliman says Charlotte Maxeke Hospital is another emergency that requires urgent attention.