Did you know...
Every year the Red Cross Children’s Hospital sees 250,000 patient visits. The majority come to us from South Africa’s poorest communities and townships, but some are referred from across the continent. Each is critically ill.
A living memorial to the veterans of World War II, over the past 60 years, Hospital facilities have grown to include one of Africa’s largest operating Intensive Care Units and its only specialist Burns Unit. For this reason, the Hospital is home to many South African ‘firsts’ including:
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The first open-heart surgery on a child.
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The first successful separation of conjoined twins.
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The first dedicated children’s cancer service.
This year we are fundraising to support a breadth of projects that include the upgrade of the Hospital’s pioneering Oncology Ward, the development of Africa’s largest paediatric Emergency Unit, and the training of specialist physicians and nurses from across the continent.
What makes Children's Hospital Trust different
When people think of child health in Africa, they think of diseases like malaria, tuberculosis and HIV. But as child survival rates increase, so too do conditions like childhood cancer, respiratory and heart disease – not to mention trauma, burns and other rare conditions/disorders.
This increases demand for specialist health services, but the resources simply are not there to meet it. Specialist paediatric care is an area that is desperately underfunded, and so the needs of Africa’s sickest children are too often overlooked.
We are working to change this. The Red Cross Children’s Hospital is a global resource famous for the delivery of world class treatment, specialist training and cutting-edge research. With a reach that extends well beyond the local Cape, it really is a beacon of hope for some of Africa’s sickest children.
Other ways to support
We are always happy to welcome new supporters to our UK family, and there are a number of ways you can get involved:
Join an event: Join our team for the Royal Parks Half Marathon in 2018! Every year 70 supporters from across the UK, USA, Europe, and South Africa take to the tree-lined paths of London’s Royal Parks to raise money for the Trust.
Fundraise for us: Whether you want to climb Kilimanjaro, abseil down the Shard, or run the London Marathon – let us know what you’re planning and we will support you with fundraising ideas and materials.
Volunteer with us: We are always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help support our work here in the UK. Whether you want to help-out at an event or have a skillset you can offer our fundraising team, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
