While the Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Centre for Africa (WSPCCA) benefits tremendously from the generosity of its partners and benefactors, the charity organisation still struggles with certain unavoidable expenses – one of the most expensive being accommodation.

With so many of the foundation’s young patients coming from poverty-stricken areas in Africa, the vast majority of their parents cannot afford to pay for accommodation while their children undergo the process of life-saving surgery and post-operation observation.

“Although the hospital does have two four-bedded boarding rooms for parents of cardiac children, they are not exclusively for the use of the charity parents. From time to time we have had free accommodation from Southern Sun but we quickly found ourselves in a situation that was not ideal,” explains Lynda Bleazard, CEO of the WSPCCA.

“Transport costs to and from the hotels and guest houses, as well as limited space and facilities at the hospital meant that the foundation has run up a transport and accommodation bill of close to R300,000 over the past three years.

“While we are always thankful for whatever help our partners can offer, we needed a place that not only had the space and facilities for parents to stay comfortably while their children were being operated on, but also a place that offered a peaceful environment for parents to relax and for the children to recover after discharge before going back to their homes,” she says.

Bleazard says that the ideal situation would be the purchase of a house that is within walking distance of the hospital.

And today, the WSPCCA is very pleased to announce that the foundation’s wish has come true thanks to the kindness of its valued partners and the WSPCCA’s global patron, HRH Princess Haya Al Hussein, a United Nations Messenger of Peace.

With generous donations from Netcare, Vodacom Foundation and the Absa Foundation, as well as support from Princess Haya, the WSPCCA has secured a house that is perfectly situated right over the road from the Netcare Sunninghill Hospital.

The house formerly belonged to Dr. Ajay Maharaj, a neurosurgeon at the Netcare Sunninghill Hospital, who kindly reserved it for the WSPCCA until adequate funding could be raised to purchase the property for a reasonable price.

“We could not be more blessed,” Bleazard says. “The house is the perfect size and is in the perfect location for our patients and their parents. Where we could previously only accommodate around four people at the hospital, we now have space for up to 14 patients and parents at a time.

“It’s going to save us so much in transport and accommodation costs, which means that we can redirect funding into paying for more surgeries rather than operational costs,” Bleazard explains.

But a house is nothing without its furnishings and this is where the WSPCCA’s partners and friends have come out in huge support of the charity – donating furniture, appliances, garden services, plants, decorations, paint and consumables to ensure that the house becomes a home.

These partners include: Absa Foundation, ADT Security, Alexander Hahn Architects, Alive Art, Beds For Africa, Cats Digital Expert, Continental Linen, Drum Tribe, Foto Cats, Elite Furniture, Gaby’s, Investec, Lesley’s Tracks, Living Textiles, Massmart Holdings, Meditech, Netcare Sunninghill Hospital, Patio Warehouse, Protea Hotel – Wanderers, Protea Hotel – Witbank, Razorworx Razor Wire, Super Group, Tribeca Public Relations, Value Truck Rental and Vodacom Foundation.

Mthobi Tyamzashe, Chairman of the Vodacom Foundation, says that the Foundation is especially happy to see that the house is fully equipped with all the necessities that will ensure a complete recovery and somehow ease the trauma and pain suffered by beneficiaries of the operations and their families.

The house has been named the Sheikha Al Jalila House for the WSPCCA, after the daughter of Princess Haya and HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

“It is the hope of all the donors that this will be a special place of rest and relaxation for the parents of patients at the WSPCCA. We hope it will provide them with a temporary sanctuary at a very difficult time in their lives and a home away from home,” says HRH Princess Haya.

Happy Birthday Mama Albertina Sisulu

The wonderful news of the launch of the Sheikha Al Jalila House for the WSPCCA also coincides with another very happy celebration, Mama Albertina Sisulu’s 91st birthday!

“Viva Mama Sisulu Viva – what an impactful 91 years you have lived,” says Dr Victor Litlhakanyane, executive director of Netcare.

“Like you, the WSPCCA has come a long way since its inception in November 2003. The acquisition of the Sheika Al Jalila House for the WSPCCA is a huge step in the right direction for the vision of the WSPCCA, to act as a living legacy of Walter Sisulu’s life – and his passion for caring.

“The house will go a long way to substantially improve the lives of the parents of the young patients treated at the centre. We are proud of the work that is being done at the centre and we are both delighted and humbled that this worthy project is housed at Netcare Sunninghill Hospital.”

Mihloti Mathye, General Manager of ABSA Corporate Social Investment adds that, since 2006, Absa has been a proud supporter of the Centre and has celebrated as its reach and impact has grown.

“It is a privilege for Absa and our employees to contribute towards the life changing surgery as well as to create a garden sanctuary where family members can seek the emotional and spiritual healing that goes alongside the physical healing,” he says.

Bleazard says that there is a clear vision for the house – that it will become more than just a place where patients and their parents sleep.

“We’d like to transform the place into a skills development hub as well, where volunteers can teach parents various skills while they are staying in the house and while their children go about leading normal lives as they play in the garden before they head back to their home countries,” she explains.

“In hindsight, this was a hugely ambitious request, but even in these trying times, we were unbelievably surprised at the sense of charity that our partners, friends, corporate South Africa and, indeed, our global patron, HRH Princess Haya, have shown to us,” Bleazard adds.

“With this house in our possession, we finally have a place where parents can stay comfortably in a stress-free environment that is a stone’s throw away from the hospital, and is easily accessible in case of emergencies.”

About the WSPCCA
The WSPCCA is an independent philanthropic foundation whose objectives include the provision of service delivery to underprivileged cardiac children, training and development and research. The centre is based within Netcare Sunninghill Hospital where it has the use of world-class facilities. For more information contact Lynda Bleazard, CEO of the WSPCCA on 011-257 2017 or visit www.wspcca.org.za.