Klerksdorp joins fight against Ebola

MSF doctor Stefan Kruger graduated from the University of Cape Town and did his community service in Mpumalanga. He worked with MSF in Afghanistan before joining MSF teams in Sierra Leone

International medical humanitarian organisation Medicines Sans Frontières (MSF) has launched an international funding appeal to support its work in Ebola-affected countries such as Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia. The organisation is also providing support to unrelated Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The organisation also works to provide treatment for HIV and tuberculosis in southern Africa.

As part of fundraising efforts, MSF face-to-face fundraisers recently visited Matlosana’s City Mall to tell shoppers about MSF’s work and solicit donations.

OurHealth spoke to fundraiser Kaylin Luh about their work.

“We are playing the middleman because when people donate, we can help others who are in real need,” said Luh, who added outreach efforts had elicited overwhelming responses in other North West towns such as Rustenburg and Mahikeng.

City Mall retail employee Anastacia Moremi welcomed the fundraising team’s presence.

Klerksdorp Hospital is one of the 11 hospitals nationwide that have undergone Ebola preparedness training as the Department of Health prepares for possible imported cases of the disease. World Health Organisation experts have stressed that the risk of an Ebola outbreak in South Africa remains low.

• Read more: South African doctor blogs from Ebola’s front lines