The Rotary Club of Blouberg is asking the public to donate soft toys to the children’s ward at Brooklyn Chest Hospital in Ysterplaat.
Almost 300 children are admitted to the hospital annually to be treated for TB and other respiratory illnesses, says the hospital’s paediatrician Dr Juli Switala.
Most of the children do not have a toy to play with, and the older children, who are unable to attend school while in hospital, have no books to read.
Dr Switala said it would be a “great idea” to have balls and soft toys for the children to play with.
Rotary club member Alice Finch visited the hospital two weeks ago to hand over three toys she received from an overseas friend. After speaking to a nurse at the children’s ward, she learned very few of the children had toys.
“I could not be unfair and give only three toys to the children,” she said. “There was a need for all of them to have toys.”
Another member of the club, Marius Boraine, said most of the children came from poor communities and were long-term patients at the hospital.
The aim of the toy drive was to “make a difference” in the lives of others, he said.
Contact Mr Boraine at 082 897 9854 or mariusb@netactive.co.za if you would like to help.
