Dire need for elderly’s disposal nappies, sanitisers during lockdown – Twala

Philanthropist Linda Twala appealed for donations of other items than food and soap which are needed by the elderly and the disabled who are bedridden.

The request to private individuals and the business community was made after his organisation’s reassessment of the beneficiaries’ needs as the nation heads into the extended two weeks of the lockdown.

“We and other local NPOs have been inundated with requests for relief support since day one.

“More needs emerge overtime and are compounded particularly for the aged, frail and disabled who are impacted the most.

“There are over a hundred of them who are bedridden, out of sight and known only by those with intimate knowledge of the most vulnerable in this township.”

Twala said adding that some of them stay alone and struggle to go out of their rooms occasionally to relieve themselves. “They are unable to queue with others for help and their needs are special, urgent and desperate, like disposable nappies, sanitisers and health and hygiene items which should be delivered to their places.”

He will deliver the items together with food relief through a programme, Meals on Wheels run by his organisation Phuthadicha Community Development Centre.

“Police and soldiers patrolling the streets recognise our work and let us visit these poor souls.”

Twala added that the lockdown’s other downside is the increased general need for food support and warned that poverty may worsen in the end when many will have lost their jobs. He urged for relief aid through both government and civil society to be expanded and include sponsorship of interim self-help schemes while the economy stabilises and jobs are recovered. He thanked donors like Tidi and Friends Foundation, FeedSA and supermarket chains for responding quickly with their aid. Also, he commended the efforts of councillors and the department of social development and asked them to identify and secure decentralised points in the township where the donations can be distributed conveniently, fairly and in a transparent manner.

Twala who also runs Twala MaAfrica Funeral Parlour further asked for some form of assistance from authorities on burials. “The limited number of those allowed to attend burials is a problem to families with mainly females who struggle to cover the graves and it forces our staff to help them resulting in delays on their other appointments.”