HEALING KIDS:
THE NATIONAL PROJECT
In celebration of our 40th Anniversary, the Foundation announced the launch of a national flagship project - Healing Kids - during the middle of 2007. The project was designed with the overall goal of enhancing the quality of paediatric health care provided to underprivileged children at public hospitals in South Africa.
This initiative extended over a period of thirty-six months, culminating in the Foundation's 40th Anniversary celebration during August 2009. A total budget of R17.5 million was allocated to the project, rendering this the largest single funding initiative ever undertaken by the Foundation. The project consisted of two major elements.
The first phase aimed at materially improving the care provided to children when hospitalized, by assisting paediatric units at public tertiary hospitals to mobilize the resources required by them in order to improve the quality of their infant patient care and services. This element promoted the establishment and capacity-building of resource mobilization mechanisms, with the purpose of mobilizing the required resources and equipment, establishing public-private partnerships, creating access to increased funding and, ultimately, facilitating sustainability for these units. The Phase I Fuchs investment amounted to R7.5 million.
The second phase aimed at making a contribution to reducing infant mortality in South Africa. This element specifically targeted a reduction in neonatal mortality rates of selected tertiary and secondary public hospitals. Here the Foundation's intervention process was based on the design, development and replication of a funding model, aimed at promoting centres of excellence at neonatal care units. The model mostly focused on the implementation of relatively simple, low-cost technology measures. The Phase II Fuchs investment amounted to R10 million.
Both phases of the Healing Kids national project were based on extensive fact-finding undertakings and in-depth consultation with paediatric and neonatal experts, nationally within the country.
This initiative extended over a period of thirty-six months, culminating in the Foundation's 40th Anniversary celebration during August 2009. A total budget of R17.5 million was allocated to the project, rendering this the largest single funding initiative ever undertaken by the Foundation. The project consisted of two major elements.
The first phase aimed at materially improving the care provided to children when hospitalized, by assisting paediatric units at public tertiary hospitals to mobilize the resources required by them in order to improve the quality of their infant patient care and services. This element promoted the establishment and capacity-building of resource mobilization mechanisms, with the purpose of mobilizing the required resources and equipment, establishing public-private partnerships, creating access to increased funding and, ultimately, facilitating sustainability for these units. The Phase I Fuchs investment amounted to R7.5 million.
The second phase aimed at making a contribution to reducing infant mortality in South Africa. This element specifically targeted a reduction in neonatal mortality rates of selected tertiary and secondary public hospitals. Here the Foundation's intervention process was based on the design, development and replication of a funding model, aimed at promoting centres of excellence at neonatal care units. The model mostly focused on the implementation of relatively simple, low-cost technology measures. The Phase II Fuchs investment amounted to R10 million.
Both phases of the Healing Kids national project were based on extensive fact-finding undertakings and in-depth consultation with paediatric and neonatal experts, nationally within the country.
