GranKaz casino donates wheelchairs to Ministry of Health |04 December 2021

The handover ceremony (Photo: Thomas Meriton)

GranKaz casino has donated five wheelchairs to the Ministry of Health.

The wheelchairs have been purchased locally at the Good Health Pharmacy, Victoria.

The donation is part of the casino’s Corporate Citizenship initiative, although the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) tax has been abolished.

The wheelchairs will be used in the Occupational Unit to assist persons who are in hospital care.

It was GranKaz public relations and communication manager, Sharma Amesbury, who handed over the wheelchairs to the deputy chief executive of the Health Care Agency, Kathleen Cecile, in a small ceremony in the lobby of the Seychelles Hospital (Red Roof) yesterday afternoon in the presence of other health workers and representatives of the casino.

The donation coincided with the day of the disabled yesterday.

Ms Amesbury said that the casino has always attempted to assist the hospital with donations where at the beginning of the year, R200,000 was budgeted for further assistance which unfortunately was diverted to assist the Covid-19 Relief Fund, at that time a more pressing cause which they had wanted to contribute their part.

In the months that followed, the casino had to close down because of the pandemic and even with a loss of earnings, “GranKaz rethinks about its entire CSR and although the tax itself is no longer obligatory, it chooses to still keep its Corporate Citizenship initiative going,” she added.

“We feel that NGOs and other non-profit organisations are even more in need now than they were before and the same goes for the hospital. With the Covid-19 having taken such a toll and precedence, we just wanted to assist with other little things that may become overlooked or have had to be put on the back burner, but are nonetheless essential,” Ms Amesbury continued.

She stated that last year the casino donated three such wheelchairs to the ministry and although with limited fund but not limited wishes, chose to add the five wheelchairs to the previously donated batch.

“We hope that this can help you, so that you can continue to provide the best possible health care to those in need,” she said.

On behalf of the Health Care Agency and health workers, Mrs Cecile thanked GranKaz for its wonderful donation.

She noted that given the fact the agency understands that their line of business has been affected to a large extent by the pandemic, causing a loss of earnings, they also greatly recognise the sacrifice it has made in making the donation.

“This is a very good demonstration of the public private partnership and without the support of the private parties and companies out there, we would be in serious trouble every now and then, because although we have a large budget, it quickly goes through because the needs are tremendous,” she said.

Wheelchairs have been around for many years as a means of transportation by a person who is unable to walk as a result of illness, injury or disability.  

Patrick Joubert