The City’s Urban Management Directorate, in partnership with the City’s Water and Waste Directorate, have received a donation of 240 care packs from the National Department of Water and Sanitation, containing items such as hand sanitisers and soap, to be handed over to vulnerable residents in informal settlements in Subcouncil 24. The donation also included additional health and hygiene products, which will be issued to Early Childhood Development Centres in the area. This is over and above the 20 000 COVID-19 hygiene care packs handed out from the Mayor’s office over the past few months to help residents fight the pandemic.
Residents from Kuyasa, Khayelitsha, who are 55 years and older and those living with disabilities, were among the first beneficiaries on Saturday, 22 August 2020, to receive care packs.
The care packs contain items such as soap, sanitiser and gloves, and in some cases, buckets and disposable suits.
These were donated by the National Department of Water and Sanitation, and are being distributed by the City’s Urban Management and Water and Waste Directorates.
Over the coming days, more residents, who have been identified through Subcouncil 24’s registered partnerships, will receive care packs.
This includes the following areas: Donkerbos (Ward 15), Sir Lowry’s Pass (Ward 84), Nkanini (Ward 95), Msindweni (Ward 96) and Macassar Village (Ward 109).
‘It is very heart-warming to see this initiative roll-out as this will be benefitting some of our most vulnerable residents living in informal settlements.
‘We appreciate the donation of 240 care packs from the national government. The Subcouncil has been working closely with NGOs and actively involved structures to specifically target beneficiaries who are living with disabilities and who are 55 years of age and older, to receive these care packs to help protect themselves as well as reduce the spread of coronavirus.
‘In Khayelitsha, we specifically worked with Movement of Change and Social Justice as well as Abakhanyisi Christian Movement.
‘During the hand over, residents were also reminded to adhere to the current regulations as well as to keep COVID-19 awareness and prevention top of mind. The City continues to drive the message that residents must carry on masking up, washing hands and protecting their loved ones and community by keeping a healthy distance,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Management, Alderman Grant Twigg.
Residents were also shown how to make squeezy bottles.
The donation also included additional health and hygiene products, such as sanitisers, bars of soap, masks and gloves, which will be issued to two Early Childhood Development Centres in the area.
‘We want to thank the National Department of Water and Sanitation for this donation as every contribution helps, so that together, both as different spheres of government, and our residents, we can help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.
‘We must remain committed to keeping the curve as flat as possible and protecting our communities through education and awareness and other interventions.
‘As part of the City’s emergency response to COVID-19, the Water and Waste Directorate has provided more than 76 million litres of water via trucks to informal settlements during the lockdown. Some 307 water tanks have also been installed during this time, including a donation of 214 tanks from the national government, ’ said Alderman Xanthea Limberg, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Waste.