DISABLED patients, especially those in wheelchairs, need exercise therapy to help with their quality and longevity of life.
Unfortunately, due to the cost of this therapy and decreased funding, due to Covid-19, the Saint Giles Board, in consultation with management, had to make the decision to remove the therapists from their payroll.
The Remedial Therapy Centre (RTC) based at Saint Giles is, however, still operational with the therapists having formed their own organisation called Sukuma (meaning ‘to stand up’).
“Saint Giles has given the use of RTC facility, free of charge, to the therapists to use for the continued treatment of disabled patients. To earn a living and help their much-cared for patients, it has become a necessity for the therapists to charge them for their exercise therapy. The cost per patient is R500 per month. Unfortunately, there are several patients who cannot pay,” said Brenda Craig from Saint Giles.
“The one patient was in tears because he desperately needs the therapy but has no finances for it. It is so heart-breaking. We are urgently looking for funds to help these patients,” said therapist, Gina Gabriel.
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If you, a company, or any of your contacts would be willing to sponsor a patient it would be lifesaving for them.
The cost to sponsor a patient is R500 per patient per month. The R500 per month equates to just R20 per session, per day. Each session includes a tailored exercise programme, personalised attention and stretching from a therapist, use of the various automated machines for leg and arm exercises, the tilt and stand table as well as various other gym equipment.
Sponsorship of a patient also entitles you to an 18A Tax Certificate which has tax refund benefits when you submit your income tax return.
If you can help, even one patient, receive their lifesaving exercise therapy, contact Brenda Craig on 083 778 1428 or brenda@saintgiles.org.za.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
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