While the Corona situation is slowly easing in Europe, South Africa is currently struggling with the consequences of the pandemic.
The country is among the top 10 countries with the highest infection rates, with more than half a million cases. To contain the spread, South Africa, like many other countries, has had a mandatory mask requirement for weeks – even for the youngest citizens.
However, people from poorer backgrounds and townships, in particular, cannot afford this protection and often live in cramped conditions. Without a face mask, there is no access to public places, supermarkets, social or medical facilities.
Face coverings are also important in the accommodations of LETCEE (a foundation of Medical Checks for Children) to contain the spread of the virus.
LETCEE is an international foundation dedicated to providing medical care for children. In conjunction with the MAMAS program in Greytown, South Africa, mothers and their children receive medical care and necessary treatments. Last year, a team of approximately 10 doctors and volunteers traveled to Greytown to examine around 1,000 children within two weeks.
Not only is the medical team unable to travel to South Africa this year to conduct medical check-ups as usual, but many children there are also currently lacking access to their social and medical support services. Face masks are in short supply everywhere. As a result, they are also missing out on meals, which are often distributed in social service centers.
To improve the situation, we were able to provide face masks to nearly 180 children through a joint effort from the Netherlands and South Africa. The face masks were made from high-quality Rookie fabrics by a local South African seamstress.
They arrived in Greytown last week, and the relief was immense. The children, aged two to five, live below the poverty line and depend on LETCEE's protection and basic services.
We are delighted to have been able to support this project and look forward to many more successful projects! 🖤
You can find out more about MCC and LETCEE here.
