Johannesburg: Aspen Pharmacare, a JSE-listed leading pharmaceutical company in the southern hemisphere, provided a financial injection towards the establishment of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital at the inaugural Mandela Sports and Culture Day.
Stephen Saad, Aspen Group Chief Executive together with the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi last year raised R10 million through the Sifiso Nxasana Paediatric Trust for the Children of Africa (“the Trust”), when they cycled the grueling 240km Aspen Trans Karoo race in aid of paediatric healthcare in Africa. Dr Motsoaledi started the race alongside Saad, signaling his support of the need for enhanced access to quality healthcare for all children – irrespective of their socio-economic background.
Saad said, “Aspen, together with other donors, is privileged to be able to build on the foundation of quality paediatric healthcare through our R5 million contribution to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital. This demonstrates our commitment to responsible corporate citizenship and we will continue to identify appropriate initiatives aligned to Mr Mandela’s vision and in support of the Department of Health’s programmes to ensure that future generations of South Africans receive the healthcare that they rightly deserve.”
“We wish to commend the Minister of Sport, Fikile Mbalula and of Arts and Culture, Paul Mashatile for their vision in conceiving the Mandela Sport and Culture Day. We trust that our contribution on this important day, where the nation honor Madiba, will lead to a further call of action from Corporate South Africa to support this extremely worthwhile initiative,” added Saad.
Dr Judy Dlamini, Chairman of the Sifiso Nxasana Paediatric Trust said, “Even from the challenge of a hospital bed, Madiba continues to unite the nation, on this occasion through an initiative that will vastly improve specialist paediatric healthcare in the public sector and provide hope to thousands of children. My family and I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Stephen Saad’s initiative supported by the National Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motswaledi to assist in the realization of Tat’u Madiba’s wish.”
The Trust was established to support the Long Ride for Sifiso Campaign following the untimely passing of Sifiso Nxasana, son of Judy Dlamini and her husband Sizwe Nxasana, CEO FirstRand Ltd.