Pretoria - After visiting her friend's son at the Rivoningo Care Centre, Water and Environmental Affairs Deputy Minister, Rejoice Mabudafhasi, made a commitment to come back and assist the much needed centre.
Mabudafhasi decided that there was no better time to go back and fulfil her promise other than the start of Women's Month on Monday. She and her staff members assisted in cleaning and painting the institution.
The 20-bed hospice, which started its operation in February 2005, houses terminally ill patients and is currently sustaining itself through donations. A doctor and social worker volunteer their services on a weekly basis as the centre does not have its own resident doctor or social worker.
Mabudafhasi challenged women to look at places around them and act when they see a need. "We are human and when seeing a situation, we get touched. Even if we don't have anything, we can plan and bring things together.
"Whatever and whoever need dire assistance, let's go to our human nature and give those who are in need," Mabudfhasi said, while hanging curtains in one of the rooms.
She also handed over items including two JoJo water tanks; electric stove; microwave; blankets; garden items including seedlings, shade trees, garden tools and dust bins to promote recycling.
"They [patients] must not feel like they are in an institution but at home, hence the place needs to be beautified," she said.
The institution's programme manager, Edward Zulu, said Mabudafhasi's visit will take the institution to another level and make the nation aware of the community's needs.
"The stove came in handy as the one we are using is not working. The trees and flowers are instrumental and will make people feel at home and also makes the place look better.
"The water tanks will save us lot of money because we use water for the vegetable garden and we were being charged. But with the tanks, we can use the rain water and save on bills,"
