Partnering for Health in KZN

Tuesday 8 December – Christmas came early in 2009 for the Ashdown clinic after it was nominated as a community outreach project by Siyahlomula High School, the runner up in the U16 Metropolitan Cup held in North West Province.

Metropolitan Holdings and its subsidiary, Metropolitan Health Group, handed over a generous donation of medical equipment at a ceremony attended by local mayor Zanele Hlatswayo and councilor Sipho Sibisi, along with Sugen Pillay, Acting Nursing Services Manager for the Msunduzi Municipality Health Department and Sister Mtuli of the Ashdown Clinic.

The impressive list of equipment includes a mobile dispensary, four blood pressure machines, four H&T machines and air conditioning equipment.

Siyahlomula was also awarded a cash prize of R50 000. The winning school of the soccer tournament, Umqhele Secondary School from Pinetown, received R70 000 at the event.

“This forms part of our commitment to partner with the communities in which we work and do business, in order to improve the lives of their people,” said Nathi Chonco: Group Executive at Metropolitan.

“We see these young soccer stars as much more than sports heroes. They are also the leaders of the future. Their support for their community is clear evidence of their passion and commitment and we are honoured to be part of that,” he said. “And we look forward to witnessing the outcome of the players’ ploughing their experiences and new knowledge back into their communities.”

Kusile Mthunzi–Hairwadzi, Corporate Affairs Executive at Metropolitan Health Group said, “This is the first of a series of partnerships we are planning with local clinics.” “We hope that this donation will go a long way in helping the clinics address some of the challenges they are facing, especially in the management of TB and HIV related illnesses, as well as child mortality and maternal health,” concluded Mthunzi–Hairwadzi.