Company news: Vodacom opens its heart on Valentine's Day

The donation was handed over today to the Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Centre for Africa (WSPCCA), which will drive the project, at a colourful party for many of the children and their families at the Pretoria Country Club during the Vodacom Championship.

The donation to the WSPCCA is part of the Vodacom Foundation's support to give affected babies and children a chance in life. Vodacom believes that South Africans have a right to basic health care and is committed to helping government achieve its health care objectives.

Vodacom Foundation CEO, Mr Mthobi Tyamzashe, said: “Vodacom is passionate about helping other people to help themselves. Through this remarkable WSPCCA initiative, we are thrilled to be giving a new lease of life to these children. Their families are not able to afford this surgery and, without it, many of these children will not survive into adulthood.”

At today's party, Brian's Circus ensured that the children were kept amused and entertained, while every child went away with a Vodacom-branded shirt and cap.

Some of the professional golfers playing in the Vodacom Championship attended the party to celebrate the lifeline given to the children through this opportunity.

Since the inception of paediatric cardiac surgery in the late 1950s and early 1960s, phenomenal growth has been witnessed in this form of surgery. Today, according to the WSPCCA, almost all cardiac conditions in children can be corrected, or at least well palliated.

Due to a lack of funding, however, only a small fraction of the children of Africa who require corrective cardiac surgery actually receive it. While treatment can rectify cardiac problems in more than 95% of cases, less than 20% of children in South Africa requiring surgery currently receive treatment. Elsewhere on the African continent, according to the WSPCCA, the situation is even bleaker, with only 1% of children receiving the surgery required.

Based at the Sunninghill Hospital in Johannesburg, the WSPCCA is the largest paediatric cardiac unit in Africa and is regarded as one of the finest centres of its kind in the world.

Young patients are referred to the WSPCCA from both South Africa and the rest of Africa. Funds made available from the Trust enable members of the surgical and medical teams to perform life saving heart operations on babies and children whose families are unable to pay for this vital surgery, or whose medical insurance cover is insufficient.

Palesa Chabula
Executive Head: Corporate Communications
Sponsorships, Foundation and Customer Centricity
Vodacom Group (Pty) Ltd
Tel: 011 653 5661
Cell: 082 997 1677
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