With Dr. Esther Nyambura and Sibusisiwe Yona from Smile Train
“A simple smile. That’s the start of opening your heart and being compassionate to others.”– Dalai Lama
Today, on World Smile Day I honour everyone at Smile Train working tirelessly to provide free cleft surgery to those in need. Susannah Schaefer and Esther Nyambura you are remarkable leaders. I’m proud to be an ambassador for your organization.
Every day, 540 babies are born with #cleft, a birth difference that causes difficulties in eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking. To make sure that no child is left behind, Smile Train will focus on the needs of #540Today to ensure millions of smiles tomorrow! Support http://smiletrain.org
“The care of the Earth is our most ancient and most worthy, and after all, our most pleasing responsibility.”― Wendell Berry
September is Arbour Month here in South Africa and in honour of that I would like to applaud Margo Adonis , Founder of Visions of Change, who in 2018 as part of the Miss Earth South Africa programme Margo Adonis started her #PlantingSeedsOfHope Campaign and since then she has planted 850 trees (and no, that’s not a typo – 850 trees ). Margo Adonis THE PLANET THANKS YOU, WE THANK THANK YOU.
[Side note: I absolutely loved that Executive Director of Miss Earth SA Catherine Constantinides was there to assist Margo this week – the Margo-Catherine bond is very adorable]
Thank you to Margo’s partners Miss Earth South Africa, Department of Environmental Affairs, Western Cape Government, Reliance Compost, Stashers and many more – thank you all for supporting Margo
“As a brand, we can elevate the conversation around physical disabilities by including them into our fashion doll line further to showcase a multi-dimensional view of beauty and fashion,” Mattel said in a statement.
Today I was delighted to find out that Mattel has introduced a range of differently-abled Barbies. THANK YOU MATTEL for creating a Barbie that represents me it’s so nice to see myself in a Barbie.
The Muslim Association of South Africa (MASA) has embarked on its #WarmMzansi campaign, with the aim to deliver blankets and food essentials to poverty-stricken vulnerable communities and homeless individuals in Johannesburg.
As a community who cares, MASA are helping to provide homeless people with relier as the cold front has been hitting us, wanting to make a warm difference to the orphaned, disabled, sick and needy housed in care centres and those who are homeless.
Chairman Yaseen Theba says Joburg’s homeless has already begun succumbing to COVID-19, and warns the worst is yet to come.
“As colder weather bears down & “shelters risk becoming hotbeds for infection”, assessments continue as we strategically plan relief for the poorest of the poor.”
“While many are under warm duvets, it’s a challenging period for the homeless, forgotten amid the Covid-19 pandemic, volunteers are spending their evenings handing out food, blankets & masks,” says Theba.
Theba has invited any company, school, organization or individual to help by taking hands in this huge effort.
“MASA would like to thank our loyal partners who have already committed themselves to be part of this worthy project.”
For more information, email: info@muslim.co.za
Donate Below:
MASA First National Bank (FNB) Account Number: 62779526725 Branch Code is: 253305 Swift Code: FIRNZAJJXXX Ref: (Donor Name)
• the reality on the ground is a painful reflection of the greater challenge and problem facing our people nation wide. The suffering is immense & out of control. #COVID19#Lockdownpic.twitter.com/kKsgQ56Tnv
— Muslim Association of South Africa (@MuslimAssocSA) June 15, 2020
Private security company Vision Tactical has launched its COVID-19 ‘Strategic Preparedness Unit’ in collaboration with its emergency medical partners ER24. The unique vehicle will be deployed to support risk communication, community engagement and internal staff training in relation to the pandemic.
Partnerships with law enforcement, provincial departments and health authorities will develop, monitor and implement an effective plan for communicating with the public and creating a better awareness of the risks associated with COVID-19.
The non – operational EMS vehicle will be coordinated by medics from ER24 and trained members of the Vision Tactical team, that will dedicate their skill to dawning and doffing of PPE and supporting scenes during the pandemic.
This critical function will extend to preparing venues when essential services, law enforcement, health workers and burial societies need to engage.
In addition to the COVID-19 strategic preparedness and response plan and the COVID-19 strategy update, there are four key areas that local authorities of cities and urban settlements should focus on in ensuring preparedness for a robust response to COVID-19:
• Coordinated local plans in preparation for effective responses to health risks and impacts;
• Risk and crisis communication and community engagement that encourage compliance with measures;
• Contextually appropriate approaches to public health measures, especially physical distancing, hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette;
• Access to health care services for COVID-19 and the continuation of essential services.
Director of Vision Tactical, Yaseen Theba says that optimal preparedness in cities and urban settlements is critical for effective national, regional and global response to COVID-19.
“To be effective, the units public measures are implementable and designed in a way that will promote willingness to comply,” Theba says.
Theba adds that slowing the transmission of COVID-19 and protecting communities will require the participation of every member in various communities to prevent infection and transmission.
“Understanding knowledge, behaviours, perceptions, and identifying the right channels and community-based networks and influencers to promote scientific and public health messages will be a key determinant of the effectiveness of the response.”
Programmes will be targeted to individual facilities equipping them with the knowledge, procedures and preventative measures to mitigate the risks of contracting COVID-19.
Community engagement will include accurate information on risks, what is still unknown, what is being done to find answers, what actions are being taken by health authorities, and what actions people can take to protect themselves.
