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Recognising the nation’s youth all year round
A number of initiatives being undertaken by the Netcare Group are providing young South Africans with knowledge and skills that are not only invaluable to them but also to the communities in which they live.
While the Group acknowledges the importance of Youth Day tomorrow, 16 June, Netcare and Netcare 911 remain committed to engaging young people and contributing to their lives in meaningful ways all year round.
“The lifesaving skill of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is relatively easy to learn and totally empowering for the persons who know how to perform it,” says Mande Toubkin, Netcare’s National Trauma and Transplant Manager. It is for this very reason that the Resuscitation Committee at Netcare Linmed Hospital last year started a community outreach programme called “Simply CPR”, which teaches school learners and teachers what to do in the event of an emergency and how to do CPR. The programme is currently focusing on secondary school learners and learners, teachers and parents alike have lauded the initiative as very valuable.
Young people learn quick
“Schools are the ideal vehicle to take this all important skill into the community,” says Toubkin. “Young people learn quickly, and become quite inspired, and as word travels fast among the youth we are able to teach them in groups. As leaders in the classroom and the community we also find it beneficial for teachers to have a working knowledge of the latest CPR techniques. Lessons are usually held during the learners’ Life Orientation period and make extensive use of special CPR manikins to assist in teaching them the correct techniques.”
Netcare 911 is also following this hands-on approach, with youth-centric initiatives and partnerships extending into South African communities and making a tangible difference in the lives of individuals.
Commenting on the Group’s involvement in projects that aim to empower young people, Tumi Nkosi, Managing Director of Netcare 911 says: “While a number of our youth-based initiatives are education and career-orientated, we also recognise the importance of providing our youth with skills that empower them to make a real difference not only in their own lives but also in their communities. We furthermore aim to assist these young individuals and their fellow community members by offering emergency medical support wherever possible.”
Adding value to the community
Netcare 911 recently partnered with Afrika Tikkun, a non-governmental organisation providing education, health and social services to children, youth and their families via centres located in a number of townships.
“We became aware of this organisation during Netcare 911’s visit to Orange Farm on Mandela Day last year. We were so taken with the significant value that they add to communities that we decided to become formal partners with them as part of our corporate social investment programme in 2012,” explains Nkosi.
To date, Netcare 911 has partnered with Afrika Tikkun on Wellness Days where CPR demos were given to young people and community members as well as providing medical standby at selected events such as the Afrika Tikkun family sports days. This is amongst other opportunities that are currently under review.
“Our engagement with Afrika Tikkun was featured at the International Travel Insurance Conference in Lisbon last year, where Netcare 911 won the Corporate Social Investment award,” concludes Nkosi.
(Press release, June 2012)
