The staff and management of the South African oncology company, Eurolab, made sure that little children living in the Zama Zama informal settlement in Pretoria West had a present to open on Christmas day last year. The Eurolab team visited the children here in December to hand over boxes of presents and tasty treats, with a special instruction to only open their presents on Christmas Day. The donation was made possible through a partnership with the New Schools of Hopewhich runs a creche and school in the settlement, located in Claremont, Pretoria West.

Eurolab CEO, Lynne Du Toit, says, “This was the second year that Eurolab donated goodies and gifts to the children living in Zama Zama. Every staff member at Eurolab contributed to the gift packs which were made up of stationery, sweets, toys, clothes and toiletries.

“It was an honour for us to once again support New Schools of Hope because they do such important work in educating and mentoring Zama Zama’s children and ensuring they eat a nutritious diet. Children need to grow up in a nurturing and secure environment and they need to eat properly. New Schools of Hope is providing this to them.”

Alida Fourie, founder of New Schools of Hope, says, “We believe that all children deserve an education. Our focus is to get children ready for school. We do this by providing nutrition, emotional wellness, social skills and an intellectually stimulating environment. This is coupled with strong spiritual and moral guidance.

“We so appreciate Eurolab’s support because it brought joy to children over the festive period while allowing us to engender the real meaning of Christmas and a spirit of giving in these precious little children.”

New Schools of Hope is a non-profit organization. Alida is supported by a team of hard working and dedicated people who share her belief in ‘Healing Poverty through Education’. New Schools of Hope also believes in empowering community members by offering up-skilling and educational opportunities.

Lynne adds that, “Eurolab is an oncology companycommitted to improving access to cancer care and making treatment more affordable. Yet we are also aware of the difficulties that many of our people face beyond healthcare access. This is whyour corporate social responsibility programmes includes education, skills development and nutrition. It is a privilege to support New Schools of Hope and we look forward to meeting up with more childrenat the end of 2022.”

Alida says, “We began our work in Zama Zamain 2013 with a stimulation program for children once a week. The University of Pretoria’s Human NutritionDepartment was brought in to conduct an assessment ofthe nutritional status of children here. We learned that out of a total of one hundred children, 40 were in a severe acute state of malnutrition and needed immediate hospitalization while the other 60 were severely malnourished. Sowe rolled up our sleeves and got to work.”

Zama is a Zulu word which means ‘try your luck’. Through New Schools of Hope’s work, Zama Zama’s little ones will soon be school-ready and have a chance to complete school and try their luck at success in life through further study or employment.

“Despite no running water or electricity, the Zama Zama community works hard to keep their streets and homes clean and neat, with some members now running small businesses as well,” concludes Alida.

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Three companies joined forces to make this mass Covid-19 vaccine drive possible in a remote part of South Africa. Eurolab joined forces with Sabi Sand and Dis-Chem Pharmacies to plan and roll out the programme. Nothing but passion, hard work and collaboration made this vaccination drive possible. Well over 2 000 vaccines were administered, an effort which saw the Mpumalanga region’s overall vaccine numbers increase substantially.

Dis-Chem provided the vaccine infrastructure, set up the vaccination site and administered the vaccines. Eurolab supported the initiative, and through its subsidiary Oncolab, is also establishing a Covid-19 testing station with same-day results for the Sabi Sand staff and guests. The closest testing facility is over two hours’ drive away.

Oscar Mthimkhulu, CEO of the Sabi Sand, said, “This vaccine drive aims to achieve reserve and community-wide immunity, attract visitors back to one of South Africa’s major eco-tourism destinations and retain jobs. Tourism in South Africa has been hard-hit by the Coronavirus pandemic, and Mpumalanga has not been spared.”

Lynne Du Toit, Eurolab CEO, said, “The more jabs we can get into arms, the quicker South Africa can return to a sense of normality across all sectors, and especially health, eco-tourism and conservation. The Covid-19 testing station set up by our specialised testing facility, Oncolab, will make it easy and quick for guests and staff to take a test and get their results on the same day.”

Speaking from the Dixie village vaccination site, Ivan Saltzman, Dis-Chem Pharmacies CEO, said, “We are pleased that we were able to lend our expertise in setting up this mass vaccine site at the Sabi Sand and hope that this effort will boost tourism in the area. It also demonstrates our commitment to expanding vaccine access. Dis-Chem Pharmacies is directly involved in the national vaccine rollout and has established numerous vaccine sites across the country. We can set up vaccine sites where they are needed.”

Mthimkhulu concluded by saying, “We are committed to ensuring the health and safety of our guests and employees. The United States-approved Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are being administered, which is an important consideration especially for tourists from the United States.”

Covid-19 remains a threat to people who are unvaccinated. Some people who get COVID-19 can become severely ill, which could result in hospitalization, and some people have ongoing health problems several weeks or even longer after getting infected.

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Food parcels are supplied on an annual basis to families most in need. As well as foods like soup, mielie meal, rice, potatoes and butternuts, the parcels also include essential items like washing power and soap.

Every year, bursaries are awarded to youngsters, allowing them to learn, develop skills and find employment. Many young people have used their bursaries to get their driver’s license and gain certificates in professions such as game tracking and catering.

Sibusiso Sibuyi is one of our graduates that we are especially proud of. He is now one of the top chefs at a seven-star lodge in the nearby Sabi Sand reserve.

Sibusiso says, “I am honoured to be one of the recipients of the Eurolab bursary programme. Thanks to Eurolab’s generous support, I am the first person in my family to attend college.

“Growing up in a less privileged community presented financial and academic challenges. Through the bursary and the learning I received, I have realised the value of a college education.

“I want to take this moment to appreciate and thank Eurolab for its support. Eurolab brought light to my darkest situation.

“Today I am qualified chef, and I will obtain my driver’s license soon. There are tons of blessings. Thank you very much for the support and love.”

The post Top chef recognises the value of education first appeared on Eurolab.

Eurolab Chairman, Gabe Simaan, brought the water scarcity issue in the Dixie village to the attention of Ivan Saltzman, Dis-Chem Pharmacies CEO in 2019. Eurolab has supported the Dixie village for several years, providing food parcels to those families most in need and supporting young people with their careers by providing bursaries.

Dis-Chem Pharmacies and the Dis-Chem Foundation financed the project and Innovation Africa was brought in as the technical partner to build the system. The Dis-Chem Foundation was established 15 years ago and aims to improve the lives of disadvantaged people in South Africa. Innovation Africa is a specialist NGO with a solid track record in building sustainable water and energy systems in rural communities throughout Africa. The water system relies on solar energy and gravity to pump water from boreholes into 15 taps installed across the village.

Construction took place with the full buy-in of the community and in close consultation with the Mnisi tribal authority. A water committee was established, and ten Dixie community members were employed on the project. They have acquired skills that they can now offer to future construction or water projects.

The water system in the Dixie village is sustainable – the community will continue to have access to clean running water for years to come. There are no running costs. Villagers were involved in building the water system and are involved in its ongoing maintenance.

According to the South African Constitution every citizen is entitled to a certain amount of water regardless of his ability to pay for it. Sadly, many communities still do not have access to safe water. Together with the Dis-Chem Foundation and Dis-Chem Pharmacies, Eurolab’s hope is that this water project can be replicated in other rural communities with no access to safe water.

*In the photo above: The Eurolab and Innovation Africa team with Patrick Gumede who coordinates Eurolab’s CSI contributions with village leaders

A Dixie community member celebrates running water in her village

One of the 15 taps installed in the Dixie village

Dixie community members were trained by Innovation Africa to build and maintain the water system. Ten community members were employed to build the sustainable water system.

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Happime was set up by two incredible women determined to address the indignity that the lack of menstrual hygiene products inflicts on girls at school. Dr Keorapetse Tabane and Dr Fikile Tsela, both medical specialists in private practice, set up the Happime Foundation to combat ‘period poverty’. Dr Tabane says, “When girls have access to quality sanitary towels they are able to attend school throughout every month without interruptions and without shame. This allows them to learn consistently, get the marks they need and pursue their studies, careers and dreams.”

Eurolab joins community of HappiGivers

To provide quality pads to girls at school in disadvantaged communities, the Happime Foundation raises funds through a community of HappiGivers comprising individuals and corporates. Eurolab is now part of this community and recently handed over a year’s supply of sanitary pads to every female student at the Thembisa West Secondary School in Thembisa, situated in Johannesburg’s East Rand area.

Eurolab Group CEO, Lynne Du Toit, says, “There is no dignity for young women if they don’t have basic necessities such as sanitary pads. It’s an honour for us to support the girls at this school and I hope that Eurolab’s donation will promote a sense of pride and confidence in their womanhood in each and every girl. All too often, there is silence and stigma around periods. We aim to increase attendance and empower these girls to go on and excel in their learning and results.

“My wish is that other corporates will follow suit to support this important empowerment initiative.”

Young girls need quality sanitary towels to stay in school

According to the Happime Foundation, one in every ten girls on the African continent misses school because of the lack of access to sanitary towels. This sees girls drop out of school, their academic performance plummet, their career choices affected and their confidence undermined as they make the important journey into womanhood.

Dr Fikile Tsela is a Specialist Physician and Nephrologist in private practice in Pretoria, where she provides specialist nephrology services in a number of private dialysis facilities, her base being at Unitas Hospital. Dr Keo Tabane is a Specialist Physician, Medical Oncologist and Director of Sandton Oncology in Johannesburg, a privately-run Oncology Unit, where she has practiced since 2008.

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New hope for South Africans with multiple myeloma

Johannesburg – Friday 26 February 2021: Local oncology company, Eurolab, has launched South Africa’s latest lenalidomide generic, allowing South African cancer patients suffering from multiple myeloma to receive life-saving treatment previously only available to the top 0.1% of earners. Lenalidomide is listed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as an essential medicine, yet many patients in South Africa die of multiple myeloma because they cannot afford the treatment.

Eurolab Group CEO, Lynne du Toit, says, “In keeping with our vision to bring down the cost of cancer treatment and expand access to care, we are proud to announce the launch of Eurolen, South Africa’s first lenalidomide generic.

“Historically, the only lenalidomide product on the market cost over R60 000 per box. Over an average maintenance course of treatment, a patient needed to pay over R720 000 per year. Most medical aids cover R200 000 per year for cancer treatment, leaving patients to fork out a co-payment of over R520 000 for a chance to survive their cancer.

“Eurolen costs R8 711 per 25 mg box. By slashing the cost of treatment down by over R10 000 per month, we are offering renewed hope to South Africans fighting multiple myeloma. Patients who are treated with Eurolen will therefore be fully covered by their annual medical aid oncology benefit.

“Furthermore, treatment of multiple myeloma can last eight years and beyond, meaning that patients needed to pay some R4 million in co-payments. It was clear to us that something needed to be done: the cost of lenalidomide in South Africa is out of reach for most people.”

In multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, cancerous plasma cells accumulate in the bone marrow and crowd out healthy blood cells. Rather than produce helpful antibodies, the cancer cells produce abnormal proteins that build up throughout the body and damage organs.

Du Toit explains that, “Internationally and locally, the originator of lenalidomide has long been associated with profiteering at the expense of cancer patients. Currently, there is an ongoing United States enquiry regarding the price of the lenalidomide originator, where executives continue to receive massive salaries directly related to the price of the drug.”

Eurolab was founded in 2011 on the principle of improving access to cancer treatment by making cancer medication more affordable. Since its inception, this innovative oncology company has driven the price of cancer medicine in South Africa down by as much as 53% in molecules in which it competes compared to an average price increase of 31% in molecules in which it does not compete.

Du Toit concludes, “Today, patients are paying less than half of what they were in 2010. Our strategic focus remains on driving down costs, enhancing care and making more treatments, therapies and technologies available to cancer patients.”

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