The year 2020 will go down in history as one where the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus resulted in worldwide panic and the ceasing of all economic activities, globally. Footprints Foundation’s annual menstrual drive was also impacted as we had to obey the introduced regulations of no work and limited contact amongst the public. These measures were implemented by the South African government in their effort to reduce the spread of the virus. As a result, the Foundation and its various partners have mobilised resources and embarked on a nationwide drive to offer relief in theform of food parcels distribution to our beneficiaries.
According to global NGO, Oxfam, in 2017, almost 20% of South African households had inadequate or severely inadequate access to food. The worst affected provinces were Limpopo at 93.6%, followed by Gauteng at 84%, third is Northern Cape at 66,5% and North West at 64%.
This is the basis for Footprints Foundation’s food parcels intervention to learners who find themselves stuck at home due to the COVOID-19 outbreak. Most of these learners rely on government feeding schemes for their daily lunch, while at school. We have decided to add food parcels to our menstrual hygiene intervention, to offer relief and help reduce the impact of hunger during the lockdown period.
Our relief efforts come in the form of a food hamper, which consists of 10kg mealies, 1kg Movite porridge, 750ml sunflower oil, 4 cans of fish, 3 boxes soya mince, 2,5kg sugar, 1kg bread flour, tea bags, 800g jar of peanut butter, toothpaste, as well as washing and bar soap. We add 3 Always Sanitary towels for girl beneficiaries and a face mask cloth for all beneficiaries.
In April, our food parcels and menstrual hygiene intervention saw us drive for two days to Kuruman in the Northern Cape, to deliver 200 food parcels and menstrual hygiene products. The product was donated to the provincial department of social development who had identified deserving families, where there are girls and boys affected by the outbreak.
In May, our destination was south of Durban, in a small rural town of Harding where our Always Keeping Girls in School programme supports girls with a quarterly distribution of menstrual hygiene products, courtesy of our partner, Procter & Gamble. We worked with the National Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disability, Provincial Department of Education and schools to identify deserving beneficiaries to donate food parcels.
Other planned distribution will take place in May/June where we plan to visit Limpopo and Gauteng. One of solutions to combat the outbreak saw us partner with South African pharmaceutical company, Health Zone Pharmaceuticals, to raise funds and support local manufacturers to donate 36 million face masks in response to fighting the COVID-19 outbreak. This follows the huge demand to produce surgical masks globally, as the outbreak rapidly spread to more countries, leaving thousands dead and millions infected in less than four months.
The 36 million campaign to distribute free masks to the needy, as well as students, is led by Health Zone Pharmaceuticals founder Dustan Lowani, who saw the need to assist the most vulnerable members of society due to a lack of access, and high prices. With the expected slow return to normality in the month of May 2020, millions of school learners will need access to the products as they are expected to start making their way back to school.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the main challenge in the fight to reduce the high rate of infections amongst the general public, is limited or no access to products and preventative equipment, such as masks, sanitisers and hygiene products.
This campaign aims to galvanise South Africans, private companies and donors to contribute towards a kitty which will help local manufacturers cover their costs to produce masks to be donated to the needy, at no cost.
Health Zone Pharmaceuticals has, to date, raised and donated more than 100 000 masks in Limpopo and Gauteng. The project has roped in various partners to identify local manufactures who will produce masks at an agreed rate while also reaching out to different donors who will contribute towards the costs. Footprints Foundation’s role will be the entity that collects all donor funds and distributes the products to learners identified nationwide. To donate, kindly make your contributions to the below details:
