South African energy and chemical giant Sasol took responsibility forthe plane costs to transport an 11-year-old Mpumalanga patient to aWestern Cape hospital, the provincial health department has revealedin a statement.
It said Johannesburg airplane owner Halo Aviation told the Mpumalangahealth department that it would cost about R470 000 to fly VusiShabangu from Mpumalanga’s Evander Hospital to Western Cape’s RedCross Children Hospital and back.
Spokesman Dumisani Malamule said: “Given this huge amount, we soughtsponsors and then Sasol committed itself that it will take fullresponsibility for the transportations costs”.
The 11-year-old Secunda boy was burnt inside his shack home togetherwith a younger sibling on 31 July this year. The sibling diedafterwards and 11-year-old Shabangu sustained 96% burn wounds to hiswhole body but was “resuscitated”.
“Due to the seriousness of the boy’s condition, we began to contactRed Cross Hospital to request them to admit the patient after severalhospitals in other provinces could not provide assistance.
“The hospital agreed and that they will treat the patient for free”,said Malamule.
Last week Thurday, the boy was taken to the OR Tambo Airport where hewas flown to Red Cross Hospital to begin treatment.Mpumalanga Health MEC Gillion Mashego thanked both Sasol and the Red
Cross Hospital for assistance and wished the child a speedy recovery.”We are grateful for this gesture. I would like to wish Vusi a speedyrecovery,” Mashego said.
(edited by ZK)
