Johannesburg schoolchildren have become the first to benefit from a ground-breaking recycling project that turns used medical consumables into much-needed school shoes.
In a joint effort, Adcock Ingram Critical Care, Netcare and the City of Johannesburg donated school shoes to disadvantaged schoolchildren.
According to the officials, this new recycling project helps hospitals deal with their safe healthcare waste in a way that creates functional new products, including school shoes for disadvantaged children.
Non-hazardous intravenous infusion (IV) drip bags and tubing made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are recycled into soles for school shoes.
About 1 000 school shoes were handed over to needy youngsters from Masakhane-Tswelopele Primary School on 29 January.
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The shoes were handed over by the City of Joburg’s Executive Mayor, Herman Mashaba, Colin Sheen, managing director of Adcock Ingram Critical Care and Richard Friedland, CEO of Netcare Ltd.
This, according to the officials, forms part of their partnership to initiate collaboration on the impact of the environment on human health.
The aim is to create more sustainable solutions for the benefit of the city and its citizens, said Mashaba. “This fantastic initiative is aligned with A Re Sebetseng clean-up campaign that encourages citizens to take pride in their environment, community, and city.
“I am a strong believer in public and private partnership. We, as government, have no chance of doing it on our own so it’s incredibly exciting to be part of this project that is built on a joint effort between a pharmaceutical company, a private healthcare provider group and local government, to benefit impoverished children. This is the way of the future.”
We are promoting a culture of reducing, reusing and recycling waste to ensure Joburg becomes one of the cleanest cities in Africa, added Mashaba.
Friedland said Netcare is delighted to be a part of this worthy initiative adding that by participating in this project they are embracing a more sustainable approach to healthcare which, at the same time, is benefitting local schoolchildren.
“This project is just the beginning of a partnership in which the three parties have come together to all play a part in reducing waste, pollution and landfill sites, ultimately benefitting all citizens, who look forward to a cleaner, greener, and better city,” said Friedland.
Sheen added, “A pair of shoes is a practical gift which protects children’s feet from rough ground, dirt and cold, making the experience of learning and playing far more pleasant.”
Details: tranica@bespokecomms.co.za
