Gift of the Givers hands over food parcels

GIFT of the Givers handed over 500 food parcels in Kenhardt, near Upington, on Wednesday to commemorate World Aids Day.

The founder of Gift of the Givers, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, said the food parcels were distributed to families affected by HIV/AIDS as well as child-headed households.

He added that the Covid-19 pandemic had severely compromised management and care of patients with diverse medical challenges.

“Cancer, HIV/AIDS, TB, physical and mentally challenged conditions are but some of them.”

Sooliman also stated that health-care workers were exhausted, drained physically, emotionally and mentally. Addressing the event in Upington, Northern Cape Premier Dr Zamani Saul pointed out that 22,000 people who were living with HIV/AIDS did not have access to antiretroviral drugs (ARVS). “Forty percent of deaths in the Province is due to HIV/AIDS, diabetes and heart disease. It is everyone’s responsibility to fight the scourge of HIV/AIDS,” said Saul.