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Community acknowledges the brave efforts of Bay healthcare workers over the pandemic

Outpouring of thanks as pandemic looks to be receding

Wednesday, August 26 2020

As the COVID-19 pandemic in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan area looks to be receding, there has been an outpouring of thanks from the community to healthcare workers who have taken care of their patients over the course of the pandemic.

Pic: Netcare Greenacres Hospital general manager, Andre Bothma (right), receives the meat parcels on behalf of the staff members at the hospital. He is pictured with Cornay Wasserman (left) and his colleague Marlo Jacobs from Continental Butchery.

The general manager of Netcare Greenacres Hospital in Port Elizabeth, Andre Bothma, says that a number of donations have been made to convey the gratitude of the community to healthcare workers including nurses, cleaners, porters, catering and security at the hospital recently.

One such donation, made by a grateful anonymous donor, was for 800 parcels of meat with a value of about R100 000.

"This exceptionally kind donation was facilitated by Continental Butchery and Deli, which had previously donated morale raising milk tarts to everyone at the hospital," says Bothma.

He says that St Saviour's and St Hugh's Anglican churches, in association with Sunridge Super Spar, donated a number of snack packs to the nursing staff at the hospital last week, while Greenacres Checkers delivered bunches of flowers to the hospital on Thursday. One of the gynaecologists practising at the facility recently bought chocolates for all hospital workers on Women's Day to show his appreciation for their dedication and bravery during the pandemic.

"The pandemic has been an exceptionally taxing time for all of the dedicated healthcare workers at our hospital and we are most grateful to all individuals and businesses within the community who have acknowledged their considerable efforts in such special ways. It is a wonderful recognition of the critical role they have played in supporting our patients over this period," adds Bothma.

Elana van Rooyen of Continental Butchery and Deli says that the butchery and the anonymous donor appreciate the sacrifices staff at Netcare Greenacres Hospital have made to keep so many members of the community safe.

"Your hard work and dedication are greatly appreciated. We hope the meat pack will make for a lovely braai or at least a couple of fine family meals. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do," added Van Rooyen.

Revd. Sharon Nell of St Saviour's Anglican Church says that the church wanted to support the National Exceptional Nursing Campaign, which seeks to acknowledge the important role that nursing staff around the country have played during the pandemic. The church elected to celebrate the nurses at Netcare Greenacres Hospital, amongst other beneficiaries.

"We approached Sunridge Super Spar, which kindly agreed to supply the goodies for the food parcels. Our church members then made up the snack packs, which are a small token of our appreciation to the nursing staff at the hospital. We are most grateful for how they bravely put their lives on the line at this time to serve the ill members of our community," concludes Revd. Nell.

Ends

To find out more about the services offered through Netcare hospitals and other of the Group's facilities, please contact Netcare's customer service centre either by email at [email protected] or phone 0860 NETCARE (0860 638 2273). Note that the centre operates Mondays to Fridays from 08:00 to 16:00.

For more information on this media release, contact MNA at the contact details listed below.

Issued by:            MNA on behalf of Netcare Greenacres Hospital
Contact:    Martina Nicholson, Graeme Swinney, Meggan Saville and Estene Lotriet-Vorster
Telephone:    (011) 469 3016
Email:    [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]