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.

The post Safe running water for the people of Dixie first appeared on Eurolab.

Eurolab is committed to keeping its staff and stakeholders up to date with accurate information about the Coronavirus pandemic. Our primary source of information is the South African government’s Coronavirus portal which houses the latest media statements, resources for employers and organisations to share with their teams and information on the spread of the virus, hotspot areas, number of infections etc. There is a lot of misinformation that is circulating which only curtails the country’s efforts to curb the spread manage the pandemic. We commend our Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, for his leadership during this pandemic and look forward to the rollout of more COVID-19 vaccines.

Supporting staff to ensure uninterrupted operations

When the pandemic hit South Africa in March last year, we responded quickly. Our staff were provided with the resources they needed to work effectively from home, and as platforms like Zoom and Teams quickly emerged, we were able to manage our teams and operations effectively. In achieving this, we were able to support oncologists and their cancer patients amidst a lot of fear and uncertainty.

Throughout the pandemic, Eurolab has continued to introduce new cancer medicines into its product portfolio. We secured licenses for our sales reps to visit oncologists, duties they performed with diligence to ensure everyone’s safety. Practices were contacted in advance, and as many open-air engagements as possible were arranged. In addition, our and reps were tested for COVID-19 every second week.

With our teams now back at work, rigorous safety protocols are in place across our operations.

Cancer patients more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection

It was concerning to the Eurolab team that those more vulnerable to COVID-19 included cancer patients. We took action by providing masks and sanitisers to the practices of our trusted oncologists and joined forces with Spar to distribute care packs to cancer patients in need. The packs included sanitisers, masks, food items and toiletries.

Helping young cancer patients in public facilities

We also teamed up with Rainbows and Smiles to help healthcare workers spoil their young cancer patients with special treats. Food parcels were donated to paediatric oncology wards at several hospitals including the Steve Biko Academic Hospital, the George Mukhari (Ga-Rankuwa) Hospital, the Unitas Hospital and the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital.

Ramping up COVID-19 testing

Our oncology and haematology testing facility, Oncolab, expanded its specialised testing services to include COVID-19 testing for cancer patients and staff working in oncology practices. To alleviate the pressure on public and private laboratories, Oncolab has launched two drive-through COVID-19 testing facilities at its operations based at Midstream Medical Centre.

Gamma Knife South Africa

Strictly observing all safety protocols, the specialist Gamma Knife South Africa team at Netcare’s Milpark Hospital continued to treat patients suffering from diseases or abnormalities in and around the brain throughout the pandemic. The Gamma Knife is a less invasive alternative to microsurgery and treatments are completed in a single day without the need for hospitalisation.

Aseptic Services Unit (ASU)

Meanwhile, our ASU team in Midrand, Johannesburg, ensured the facility was ready to support public health departments and hospitals with the provision of quality-assured chemotherapy for cancer patients in rural and peri-urban areas. Testing and stability studies were conducted at the facility to maintain its South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA)-approved standards. This world class sterile Admixing facility centrally mixes chemotherapy bags with extended stability, and aims to safely deliver pre-mixed bags to treatment centres. Our goal is to support cancer patients in remote areas and minimise costly and exhausting travel to larger hospitals, where waiting periods can be long. For healthcare workers, The ASU makes for seamless administration of patient chemotherapy.

The post Our COVID-19 response first appeared on Eurolab.