Hospital CEO Michael Vonk said the kindness and generosity of HPE were most welcome. "We extend a truly heartfelt thank you to Sandile and HPE South Africa."

George Hospital recently had a visit from Sandile Dube, South Africa's acting managing director for Hewlett Packard Enterprises (HPE), who came to see the neonatal unit. HPE South Africa has generously donated R15 000 to assist in the refurbishment of the paediatric unit. Hospital CEO Michael Vonk said the kindness and generosity of HPE were most welcome. "We extend a truly heartfelt thank you to Sandile and HPE South Africa." The paediatric wing of the George Hospital is under strain because of the rapid population growth in the disadvantaged communities in the Southern Cape and Little Karoo. The Hospital Trust Fund initiated fund-raising efforts a few years ago and has launched a website to help boost fundraising. 

The site allows the public to make online pledges and they can obtain all the background information on the project they need. Visit the site at  George hospital trust.  The George Hospital Facility Board is committed to raise funds to build a new children's ward for the hospital. The vision for the project is to create a world-class health facility that provides professional care for young patients in an environment that is suitable and nurturing for both themselves and their parents. For this, millions of rands are needed. The hospital is the only level 2 hospital paediatric facility serving the population of Eden and Central Karoo (approximately 660 000).

During the Covid-19 pandemic when George Hospital, like Mediclinic George, was at the epicentre of the battle to save lives, the help extended by the Masketeers of Groenkloof Retirement Village proved to be crucial. In the early days the Masketeers, and later other volunteers who followed suit, took one worry off the minds of the hospital management: getting a mask on the face of every patient and staff member.

Spurred on by a call for help by the hospital that was inundated at the time, Groenkloof resident Cheryll van Zyl spread the news among residents who could to sew or knit. Soon the needles were clicking and sewing machines buzzing. The women managed to sew 6 074 cloth masks that they donated to the hospital. They also made 187 hospital gowns, 14 hospital pants and 11 hospital scrubs as protective gear for the staff. The list of their donations also includes 12 knee rugs, 36 bibs, 72 caps, 113 baby blankets, 85 baby vests, 339 pairs of booties, 584 baby beanies, 48 baby jerseys, 89 octopus toys, 59 teddy bears, 24 soft toys, and 32 bags for mothers.

Funding raised by the Masketeers covered the costs. As a gesture of gratitude, the George Hospital Trust on Tuesday 14 March treated the 33 knitters and sewers to a lovely high tea at the new Groenkloof Restaurant. It was a fun morning with ladies wearing themed hats portraying their task of making the masks.

Dear Mr Vonk and management, trustees of the George Hospital Trust, members of the George Hospital Board, Doctors, Nurses, Hospital staff and most importantly our patients and all the supporters of the hospital:

Christmas 2021 is upon us, and shortly thereafter we await a new year - 2022 AD. Christmas refers to Jesus Christ, the son of God who was born just more than 2000 years ago. The prophet Isaiah penned his prophetic book between 701 BC and 681 BC and spoke about the sign of Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 states: ”Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and give birth to a son and call him Immanuel.” Jesus was the final fulfilment of this prophesy, as related in Matthew 1:20-23 when the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said that Mary will conceive from the Holy Spirit and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins: verse 23….” and they will call him Immanuel-which means,” God with us.”

The Gospel according to the apostle John clarifies the meaning and purpose of Jesus’s birth, life, death and resurrection for every man, woman and child on earth, and even all creation, in John 3:16” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” It is important to note that it is not the size of our faith, either big or small that matters, but rather in WHOM we believe!

May this certain knowledge that God is with us in and through his Son, enable you to experience “the peace of God that transcends all understanding may (it) guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”( Philippians 4: verse7) In this time with Omicron, and whatever the new year may bring let us remember: ”Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:4-6)   

I close with what De Sales once said to a friend: What a blessed thing active prayer is. I mean by active prayer, doing everything in God’s presence and for His service. “ May this be true of all of us as we celebrate a joyful Christmas and a blessed new year!

Greetings

Rev. Michiel Burger(Chairman)

George Hospital Trust.

The George Hospital Trust and its trustees strongly believe that the George Hospital must be positioned to cope with the demands of the rapidly growing population of George and be assisted to maintain its proud record of service excellence as arguably the foremost hospital of its kind in the country.