More than 130 Department of Emergency Medical Sciences students will receive monthly donations of food packs and toiletries from the Gift of the Givers Foundation.
The founder of the humanitarian aid group, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, visited the Department recently, where the first monthly donations were handed over.
The head of the department, Lloyd Christopher, said that 136 students who need support while they undergo rescue training off-campus would benefit from the donations.
Dean of the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Prof Thandi Matsha, thanked the Foundation for their support.
“We have students from very different backgrounds, and this donation will go a long way. We look forward to further working with the Gift of the Givers on this initiative.”
Sooliman said the foundation was aware of many students' challenges and was happy that the university reached out to them for support.
“When you have management that worries about students and the well-being of those under them, it’s a good sign for the country.”
The donation is the first initiative under the Department’s Adopt-a-Medic programme, which seeks to assist students.
“This initiative is more targeted at individuals who want to help a student. This help could come in several ways. It could be financial, moral support, or funding for a conference and could come from industry, alumni or small businesses, for example,” said Christopher.
The Department has a long-standing relationship with the organisation. Staff from the department have assisted with disaster relief responses, locally and abroad, while Gift of the Givers has supported some of the Department’s Service-Learning projects.
Written by Ilse Fredericks
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