Healthcare Workers Heroes Memorial launched in Mbombela

The Medical Womens Association of South Africa, in partnership with Radio 702, launched the provincially based Healthcare Workers Heroes Memorial at Mbombela Stadium this past Sunday.

The Healthcare Workers Heroes Memorial is an organisation which was established by Johannesburg-based Dr Maggie Mojapelo in August. It aims to honour workers from the health department, including, doctors, nurses, sisters, professors, cleaners and porters, who died of Covid-19.

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“We have realised that there are young doctors who died from the virus, leaving behind their children with their grandparents who end up suffering to raise them. Some can’t even give them a decent burial ceremony due to the Covid-19 regulations. The Healthcare Workers Heroes Memorial offers counselling service to families and helps them to apply for the Covid-19 fund from Old Mutual for burial services. Families need to approach us so that we can see how to help them,” explained Dr Zilungile Mjoli, the Mpumalanga ambassador.

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Five of the fallen heroes from the province were celebrated on Sunday as their families had given the organisation permission to do so. They were the Dr Clive Mogajane, Sr Gladys Chuma, Dr Cecil Keys, Dr Shizela Robert Ngomane and Dr Winnie Masha.
The organisation also aims to obtain donations in forms of the life-saving personal protective equipment for clinics in disadvantaged communities. Its members also assist with post-trauma care for children and families of those who died in the line of duty.
“We are hoping that families of all healthcare workers who have died during Covid-19 will approach us for help. We also aim to have a Heroes Wall of Remembrance on which we will write their names so they are never forgotten, so we remember their sacrifice of dying while helping our people,” she added.

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Ngomane’s widow, Dr Josephine Ngomane, said her husband had been one of the first general practitioners in Naas. “I thank everyone who participated in the Heroes Walk on Sunday, this gesture showed real love and is therapy for the family,” she said.
Josephine added that the Mangweni Medical Practice, owned by her late husband, is still running on a booking system.
“Patients with chronic illness, acute illness and pregnant women can book or SMS on 072-135-4559 0r 082-636-2241. Walk-ins can also come in before 08:30, Monday to Thursday,” she said.
Jubilant Mdluli-Masha, the mother of the late 39-year-old Dr Winnie Masha of ClauClau, said her daughter had died a month before her 40th birthday. “The experience was so painful, we were devastated as a family but we are blessed and comforted to see that she is being remembered as a hero,” she said. Masha died on September 15 while undergoing Covid-19 treatment.
For more information about the organisation, call or WhatsApp 
067-009-6086, 076-147-9524 or 
078-663-2109.