Matsapha- MTN Eswatini, together with its partners, has injected E200 000 towards restoring operations at Hospice at Home Palliative Care Centre, in an initiative aimed at strengthening access to compassionate healthcare for emaSwati requiring specialised care.
The contribution forms part of MTN Eswatini’s 21 Days of Y’ello Care campaign, themed ” Expanding Equitable Health for Every Community,” which focuses on creating meaningful and lasting impact through community-driven interventions.
The support has enabled the restoration of the facility’s water supply system, a critical intervention that has paved the way for the centre to resume preparations to admit patients and provide inpatient palliative care services after the ward had been inactive for more than 10 years.
MTN Eswatini Acting Chief Executive Officer Jerry Soko said the initiative demonstrated the power of collective action between corporates, partners and communities in addressing critical social needs.
Soko said approximately E 50, 000 was invested in restoring the water supply system and supporting the facility’s readiness to provide care, adding that the intervention went beyond infrastructure by restoring dignity and improving the environment for patients and their families.
“Most importantly, it now enables the facility to begin to admit patients and deliver essential compassionate care,” Soko noted.
As part of the investment, six new palliative care beds valued at E110 000 have already been purchased and placed within the care centre. The beds are expected to improve patient comfort and strengthen the facility’s capacity to provide inpatient palliative care.
Soko said MTN remained committed to supporting healthcare initiatives that close gaps in access and ensure that quality healthcare is available to more people.He added that the hospice project represented the beginning of continued efforts to support communities through partnerships, empathy and practical interventions.
The project also received additional support from MTN partners, with Oracle Group contributing E20 000 and Magagula Hlophe Attorneys, MTN’s legal advisers, also contributing E20 000 towards the initiative, bringing the total support to over E200 000.
Meawhile, saxophonist Fakazi Samuel also expressed his commitment to supporting the hospice care centre, saying he is gradually becoming a friend of the institution. While he did not disclose the amount of support he intends to provide, noting that he still needs to consult with his team, he said he was deeply moved by the centre’s challenges.
He highlighted the alarming number of patients requiring care and the fact that there is only one nurse per region responsible for attending to them.
Representing Oracle Group, Sikhumbuzo Nkambule said the company was proud to partner with MTN and other stakeholders in supporting an initiative focused on protecting vulnerable members of society.
Nkambule said Oracle Group’s involvement followed an engagement with Hospice at Home, where the company gained a deeper understanding of the organisation’s role in providing home-based care and support to emaSwati.
He said the visit also highlighted the urgent need for the facility to restore its operations to full capacity and become able to admit and care for patients within the centre.“It is for that reason that Oracle Group committed to contribute towards this cause to the value of E20 000,” said Nkambule.
He encouraged more organizations and individuals to support similar initiatives, noting that improving healthcare access requires collaboration between government, the private sector and communities.
“Meaningful progress will require collective support from both the public and private sectors. Together we can do more to protect what matters for families facing life’s most difficult circumstances,” he said.
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