HELPING TO KEEP LEARNERS SAFE

June 2020, Boshof Solar Power.

The majority of schools across the country have now re-opened, following their countrywide closure on 18 March due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the country. To help ensure the safety of community learners, 11 000 masks were donated to learners, across six schools in the small towns of Boshof and Hertzogville, in the Free State, by Boshof Solar Power.

“We see it as critical that learners from our community are as safe as possible, on their return to school, a value that I share personally as a parent myself. I could not imagine how the parents would feel if their children returned to school without the adequate safety measures in place,” explained Zuki Ndlela, Economic Development Officer, Boshof Solar Power.

Furthermore, this donation has also created a business opportunity, at a time that small local enterprises are suffering.  This forms part of the solar plant’s Enterprise Development programme, of which Relethabetse Sewing Cooperative, is a beneficiary.

Each learner, across all grades, will receive two masks.  These schools in Boshof and Hertzogville

include: Aramela Combined School; Boshof Combined School; Boshof Intermediate School; Senzile Secondary School; Saamwerk Primere Skool; and Kegomoditswe Primary School.

Additionally, Boshof Solar Power, which is situated in the Tokologo Local Municipality, confirmed that as part of its Socio Economic Development programme, it is working with district officials to make sure that the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) is made available at allocated health clinics. The solar plant is providing PPE, for a number of Free State health centres, to help keep healthcare workers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are co-ordinating our efforts and working with the Department of Health’s Lejweleputswa District Office, to deliver the PPE to a number of healthcare centres and clinics in the area,” added Ndlela.

The essential equipment includes 5 000 N95 surgical masks; 10 000 surgical face masks; 10 000 surgical gloves; 2 000 units of 500ml hand sanitiser; 1000 coveralls; 1000 sets of medical goggles and 5000 protective aprons.

Community healthcare clinics that will benefit from this PPE support, include: Boshof Clinic in Boshof, Hertzogville Clinic in Hertzogville, and Tswaraganang Clinic in Dealesville, as well as other clinics that fall within the Twelopele and Matjhabeng Local Municipalities that are still to be confirmed.