De Beers doing its part in supporting government’s efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19 through a range of initiatives.
DE BEERS Group in Kimberley is supporting government’s efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19 through a range of initiatives to ensure the sustainability of communities during the national lockdown period and beyond.
Aligned with the company value of ‘Show We Care’, De Beers has partnered with the Northern Cape departments of Health and Social Development and two local municipalities, Sol Plaatje and Nama Khoi, on various initiatives within the Province.
De Beers spokesperson Abel Madonsela said food security has been a real challenge during the national lockdown period and the company is proud of the difference it has been able to make in communities in providing food to vulnerable members of society during this time.
“To date, De Beers Group has provided 1 700 food parcels to vulnerable communities within the Sol Plaatje and Nama Khoi local municipalities. The food parcels were received by the HOD of Social Development in Kimberley and the executive mayor of the Nama Khoi Local Municipality in Springbok. The MEC for Health, Martha Bartlett, joined De Beers Group in the distribution of the food parcels in Kimberley and thanked the company for its support in bringing relief to local communities. De Beers Group will deliver 1 700 more food parcels to both municipalities in June,” said Madonsela.
The company pointed out further that access to clean water and sanitation was critical, especially now during the Covid-19 pandemic when there’s a huge drive to get people to wash their hands regularly as one of the measures to prevent being infected with the coronavirus.
“Without sufficient access to a clean water supply from a reliable source, vulnerable communities stand a significantly higher chance of becoming infected with Covid-19. This also includes the inherent difficulty of complying with social distancing around a shared water source, as is common in many high-density communities.
“De Beers Group has partnered with Nama Khoi Municipality in making sure that the towns that do not have water within the Nama Khoi Municipality are provided with JoJo water tanks. The water tanks are currently being sourced and will be handed over to the communities in June.”
Meanwhile, the company has partnered with the Northern Cape Department of Health to roll out the local government clinic support programme for the next three months, which is aimed at health workers who are at the front line of the Covid-19 outbreak response.
The programme, which will support 11 clinics within the Sol Plaatje and Nama Khoi municipalities, will focus on facilitating training for health care workers, faith leaders and traditional healers in the local clinics, through training videos and professional training; providing clinical PPEs, including the provision of medical equipment for safety and temperature checking; supporting the establishment of local screening stations through government in high-density areas; and providing medical supplies such as, surgical masks, disposable gowns, examination gloves, goggles, scrubs and thermometers, and clinicians for further clinic support based on the facilities’ needs.
“As De Beers Group, we recognise the important role that we play in our host communities, not just from a socio-economic perspective, but also the provision of a number of vital services. We fully support the government’s efforts to reduce the impact of Covid-19 and we are proud of the work we have been able to do alongside the Northern Cape government, community leaders and our various partners in providing necessary support to the vulnerable members of our society during these challenging times,” Madonsela said.
