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Thanks to a 20-year partnership with St Faith’s School in Cambridge, London, Makukhanye Primary School in Jeffreys Bay is the proud beneficiary of a much-needed medical centre stocked with medical supplies and assessment beds.
The acting principal, Sylvia Mkele, said that when medical staff from Pellsrus Clinic visit the school, there is no space to see to the 1 313 learners.
As a result, they make use of the staff room, which is not ideal.
Thankfully, with the new medical centre built by St Faith’s, the school now has a private place for learners to be seen by a nurse or social worker.
Mkele said,
She further said that some of the other challenges faced at the school include overcrowded classrooms, a shortage of staff, and a lack of permanent structures.
“Since the school was established more than 60 years ago, the school has made use of temporary classrooms since no permanent structures have been built,” said Mkele.
Former principal, Junior Mbatani, who left the school in December last year, said that after assessing the needs of the school they informed St Faith’s of their need for a medical centre, and the London-based school delivered.
Mbatani said,
Since they have a good relationship with the local clinic, he said they hope to have more visits from clinic staff, and at a later stage they hope to have a nurse stationed at the medical centre.
“By establishing a medical centre at the school, the restoration and dignity of the learners are restored,” said Mbatani.
Wessel Vosloo from Blignault and Partners, a law firm that acts as an intermediary between St Faith’s and the school, said they assist the school to table their needs, inform St Faith’s of these needs, and once funding has been made available through a trust fund, they find a suitable contractor to complete the project.
“Over the last 20 years, in addition to the new medical centre, St Faith’s has assisted the school with various needs, which include a hall, kitchen, paving, netball court, and computer centre,” said Vosloo.
Ed Johnson, St Faith’s housemaster, said that Martie Viljoen who is a member of the local Dutch Reformed Church, initially established the relationship between St Faith’s and Makukhanye Primary two decades ago.
He further said it has been great to see the massive impact their donations have had on the learners’ health and overall well-being.
“Over the last 20 years we have seen the staff have a vision to improve the school. It is also great to see what impact St Faith’s has had at the school,” said Johnson.
In addition to the newly-established medical centre, he said they have also stocked the centre with medical supplies and assessment beds.
Johnson said that during their recent visit to the school they also donated school chairs, clothing, and a printer, among other items.
