By Seleoe Nonyane
Vodacom Lesotho (VCL) Foundation has come to the rescue of Seboche Mission Hospital in Butha-Buthe, following a recent disaster that occurred at the hospital when the roofing collapsed.
This week the chairman of the board of Vodacom Lesotho Foundation, John Matlosa handed over M1.3 million to Seboche Mission Hospital to buy roofing materials.
The foundation will also buy new computers as the old one’s were destroyed when the roof collapsed.
It was on September 30 last year when the hospital experienced a disaster which was caused by a hail storm resulting in the destruction of the hospitals roof. Part of the hospital was flooded due to heavy hail storm resulting in damage to the property.
Seboche Hospital Mission administrator, Sister Vitallina Doti, explained that the hail storm caused them a great deal as some services offered by the facility had to be halted.
“The storm opened some holes on the roof. Water came in through those holes and all the rooms were overflowing with water. We had patients during this incident therefore they had to be evacuated from the wards immediately,” she said.
Doti added: “The following day we found all our computers being covered in water resulting in loss of some important files and records.”
She remarked that the hail also caused our electricity to shut down. We had oxygen patients therefore this caused a lot of inconvenience so they were transferred to Butha-Buthe Hospital immediately,” Doti explained.
She further added that after the ordeal the health facility has ceased admitting patients. It is only attending to out-patients. The ambulance is used to transport patients who are urgently in need of some treatment to be ferried to other hospitals.
Due to these events, the hospital took an initiative to knock at various doors for help. Therefore, VCL Foundation heard their plea and agreed to come to the rescue of the hospital.
Speaking at the handing over of the aid the executive head of legal, regulatory and external affairs Ts’epo Ntaopane said the foundation was assisting Seboche Mission Hospaital “because we were especially established for this purpose.”
Vodacom Lesotho Foundation is the charity arm of VCL mandated to invest in critical areas of development, in line with the government of Lesotho’s national strategic development plan.
It supports sustainable initiatives that drive social change, improve people’s lives and solve pressing social needs.
The Vodacom Lesotho Foundation aligns itself with the goal of building a healthy, safe and educated generation of Basotho, who are able to harness opportunities for growth, creating wealth and embracing innovation, which would in turn generate the much needed employment opportunities and general improvement in the livelihoods and quality of life for all.
Ntaopane added that they will not be working alone on this project as the Lesotho Defence Force will also lend a hand by giving some of its officers to help with the roof replacement.
“We have partnered with LDF whereby the LDF officers will come in as manpower in the reroofing of the hospital. The donation will go towards purchase of material.” Ntaopane said.
