Joburg Water donates dignity nappies to the aged

01 August 2016

 

Four old age homes on Friday July 29 became the first beneficiaries of Johannesburg Water’s three-month #Nappies4Dignity campaign, initiated during National Water Week in May to collect more than one million diapers for hundreds of Johannesburg’s elderly, frail and terminally ill residents.

 

During the period, Johannesburg Water – the City of Johannesburg’s water and sanitation services entity – called on residents to assist in collecting the diapers to help restore the dignity of elderly residents who cannot care for themselves.

Several shopping malls served as drop-off points for the nappies. To further raise the importance of the campaign, the utility’s employees took part in this year’s 702 Walk the Talk fun race under the theme “Walking 4 Dignity”. The campaign ended on Sunday July 31.

On Friday, there was jubilation at the Soweto Home for the Aged in White City Jabavu when officials of Johannesburg Water arrived to deliver 3 200 nappi’es for the facility’s residents. The home was established in 1988 and cares for 50 people. Three other old age homes – Andries Meyer in Eldorado Park; Frederic Place in Coronationville; and Nazareth House in Yeoville – also received consignments of nappies on the day. More nappies will be distributed in August.

Many elderly, frail and terminally ill people use an average of three adult nappies a day. Most of them rely on relatives and social grants to buy them. Soweto Home for the Aged Acting Manager Diana Moloi said she was grateful to Johannesburg Water as the centre would now use the R20 000 it spent on nappies a month on “other important things”.

“Nappies for the elderly are in great need. That’s why we appreciate this generosity,” said Moloi.

Hilgard Matthews, Johannesburg Water’s Stakeholder Relations and Communications Executive Manager, said the entity had collected enough adult nappies during the campaign to distribute to identified care facilities.

“Our core business is water and sanitation. At the heart of sanitation is dignity. Our call is great because the need is great. These seniors cared for us when we were younger. It is now our way of saying thank you. We are caring for them,” said Matthews.

Johannesburg residents who wish to donate nappies can still do so at Johannesburg Water’s depots across the city. Other old aged homes Johannesburg Water has identified as beneficiaries are Evalon House in Jeppestown; Tswelopele Frail Centre in the Johannesburg inner city; Banakekeleni Hospice in Alexandra; Ahanang Parish Based Care and Mamohau Motshehetsi Care Support, both in Soweto; Chinese Old Aged Home in Belgravia; Jafta Village in Johannesburg South; and Floroma Old Aged Home in Roodepoort.