Donation ensures peace of mind for elderly

ELDERLY and disabled residents at Natal Settlers Memorial Home’s Coronation House can sleep peacefully at night safe in the knowledge that a brand new fire detection and alarm system, valued at R231 000, will provide staff with the early warning necessary to evacuate people safely.

The system installation is the result of a donation by the South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT) after the Trust heard of the organisation’s plight and need for a new alarm system to safeguard the facility’s 55 residents, the majority of whom are frail or disabled.

Commenting on the importance of having an up-to-date early warning system at the official handover of the alarm, SAMCT Trustee Mr Gaff Osman, said: “There can be no doubt that elderly people are significantly more at risk from fire than others. Sadly, aging and old age has the effect of reducing our ability to act. The bottom line is that failing mobility, hearing, sight or cognitive faculties severely limit the ability of those in special accommodation such as Coronation House, to act quickly and decisively in escaping a fire.”

Osman said that the SAMCT recognised that NGOs constantly face an uphill battle in terms of both securing funding and maintaining and improving infrastructure, adding that the SAMCT was created in 2008 to provide funding, services and other resources for the improvement of the lives of the vulnerable, deprived and disadvantaged.

Belinda Naidoo, General Manager of Natal Settlers Memorial Home, said the organisation was very grateful for the much-needed donation.

Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 060 532 5535.

You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Berea Mail WhatsApp number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts