Beautiful gesture honours frontline workers at Charlotte Maxeke
This gesture was done as a token of appreciation for these workers' commitment as frontline heroes of the Covid-19 pandemic in the province.
A non-governmental organisation (NGO) made a wonderful gesture towards local healthcare workers.
Sharing a statement on behalf of Ubuntu Beds, media manager Gwen Sparks said 250 bright pink potted cyclamen were laid out to spell ‘heroes’ on the grass next to the entrance of the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital in late July. This gesture was done as a token of appreciation for these workers’ commitment as frontline heroes of the Covid-19 pandemic in the province.
“This is thanks to a joint partnership between Ubuntu Beds, an NGO that pairs healthcare workers with free accommodation and Together We Bloom, a non-profit organisation that raises money for communities in need through the sale of flowers and plants who donated the flowers,” Sparks said.
Kim Whitaker, the founder of Ubuntu Beds said, “Inspired by our friends in Lebanon, @baytnabaytek, we chose Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital as space for the installation to show our appreciation for healthcare heroes. They are one of the largest Covid-19 hospitals in Gauteng, and we have already accommodated many healthcare workers from this hospital. We thought it a fitting space to celebrate our heroes.”
Adding to that, Stefan Zeelie of Together We Bloom said, “When a nation comes together, its people get the opportunity to bloom from a small seed into the beauty we see in everyone.”
Sparks added that since the virus hit, hundreds of healthcare workers have become infected, with nurses accounting for the majority of cases. A lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), over-exposure due to shortage of staff and long commutes in public transport are all said to have contributed to its spread.
“Ubuntu Beds was launched in March by Whitaker in an attempt to unite hospitality businesses, that now stand empty, with healthcare workers at no cost. This is being done through private donations and corporate sponsorship. In total, the initiative is able to accommodate up to 2 500 public healthcare workers at no cost,” said Sparks.
Ubuntu Beds noted that to date (21 July), 7 910 bed nights have been booked, 797 healthcare workers signed up, 430 doctors and nurses have been placed and 1 044 establishments with about 16 500 rooms situated across the country, close to hospitals and clinics, have signed up to the platform. The average stay is between seven and 14 days and is open to both the private and public healthcare sector. Healthcare workers have access to self-catering facilities and in some instances Wi-Fi, TV, and laundry services.
Sparks continued, “Cleanliness is of utmost importance and all accommodation providers need to adhere to a cleaning guideline developed by Ubuntu Beds, based on the guidelines set out by the Department of Health for self-isolation and self-quarantine accommodation. Specialist cleaning companies do a deep clean post-stay, which includes a Covid-19 fog, to ensure no cross-contamination occurs. Healthcare workers are aware of the risks, and scrub-off and scrub-on between the hospital and the accommodation.”
Staff working on the front line against the virus at Charlotte Maxeke said they appreciated the gesture from the two organisations.
Details: If you are a healthcare worker needing an accommodation, a hospitality business interested in offering your rooms and services, or you want to donate, please visit www.ubuntubeds.org
You can also call 086 199 9308 or get in touch via WhatsApp on 071 300 1672.
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