Mbabane: The Oracle Insurance, Salvation Army first edition of the Social Run and Fundraiser was a huge success.
Oracle Insurance and the Salvation Army Primary Health Care Center have it in their best interest to address the social and health challenges and to alleviate human suffering and distress within the local communities of Eswatini. It is for this reason that the 1st edition of Salvation Army Social Fun Run and Fundraiser event hosted and supported by Oracle Insurance took place on the 13th of December 2020, in Mbabane.
Some of the initiatives The Salvation Army in Eswatini operate include a Primary Health Care Clinic and two Satellite Clinics, a Community Care Program, an Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Project, a Psychosocial Support Program, an Elderly Care/Feeding Program, a Youth Focused Development Program, just to name a few, hence the purpose was to raise funds to support these initiatives and to create awareness so that the Eswatini community can get involved in whatever way they can in terms of donations and offering a helping hand.
When asked why Oracle Insurance got involved, Oracle’s Sonkhe Hlatshwayo stated that at Oracle Insurance they encourage clients to make their Health and Wellness a priority and therefore enjoy being part of events which promote a healthy lifestyle and further believe in the good course that the Salvation Army is about and felt the need to assist in raising funds.
Strict COVID-19 protocols were adhered to and participants weren’t limited to a formal start which added to the fun of the day.
Hlatshwayo stated that they would like to grow the event and extend it to a Corporate Challenge and raise more funds to assist in the second annual fun run later in the year.
The Salvation Army Director, Major Jeqeza and Timothy Mabaso o helped to make the event a success;
- Paul Loffler from the Times of Eswatini
- Paula Boxshall – Smith
- Paul Taylor and Swazi Slojos
- The Salvation Army Staff and Volunteers
- Barry Takis and the Albert Millin Staff
- Oracle Insure and staff
Major Mabaso encouraged EmaSwati to come in their numbers to support the second edition of the Fun Run whose date will be announced in due course. He also stated that he was optimistic it was going to be a huge success.
About the Salvation Army Initiatives in Eswatini
- Operates a Primary Health Care Clinic at Msunduza and two Satellite Clinics at Mbuluzi and Dlangeni communities. These Clinics provide services to all people (from around eSwatini) without any form of discrimination. The Clinics provide basic primary health care services, including all VCT/HTC Services (HIV/AIDS related services such as counselling, initiation and ART (Antiretroviral Therapy), TB Screening, Clinical Services, Family Planning, Ante Natal Services, Child Health: Immunization and the integrated management of Childhood illnesses, and Cervical Cancer screening
- Operates a Community Care Program (CCP). Its objective is to mitigate the effects of HIV/AIDS and TB in the communities. With this project TSA is caring for the terminally ill people in the communities and people living with HIV/AIDS and TSA has 63 VOLUNTEERS assisting with providing more community (home) based support and in teaching/encouraging community members to screen and test for HIV and TB, as well ensuring adherence to taking their medication. These Community volunteers provide these services for the love of their people, with passion and compassion – no remunerations.
- Does Community Conversations – where communities are mobilized to come together and have dialogues on issues of common concern, including gender based violence, domestic violence and abuse, health issues as well as community developmental matters.
- Has a Care for Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Project. TSA provides and assists the OVC community with school fees bursaries for secondary students and uniforms and/or basic needs for the primary school children. They also provide the OVC with food parcels for their struggling families and currently supports 250 children on the program
- Runs a Psychosocial Support Program where, through children/youth camps or home visits, the program seeks to address psychosocial distress caused by children taking care of their ill parents or watching them die from HIV/AIDS/TB related illnesses. We seek to afford the children an opportunity to continue live their lives positively, aware that they can achieve their desires and aspirations through decent education.
- An Elderly Care/Feeding Program. The elderly are provided with one cooked meal per week (every Tuesday). They are also provided with free medical checkups and medication at the Clinic. Food parcels and clothing are also provided regularly.
- Has a Youth Focused Development Project. This is aimed at providing the out of school, unemployed young people with acquiring skills in entrepreneurship and leadership/management. Together with Community Leaders a hundred and forty (140) youths members were selected and recommended to participate in this project. They are from seven (7) communities. It is envisaged that the young people will be trained on starting their own choice of businesses, in their communities, create employment and ultimately gain access to regular income. This, therefore should improve their livelihoods and that of their households, as well as help in the transformation of their communities and contribute to the economic activities of their country.
Discussion about this post