Gift of the Givers donates CPAP machines to NC Department of Health

On 04 January 2021

As part of the strategy to manage the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in the Northern Cape province, the Gift of the Givers Foundation donated 72 continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines to the provincial Department of Health on 04 January 2021.

The official handover was attended by the Health MEC, Mr Maruping Lekwene and the acting Head of Department, Dr Dion Theys.

CPAP machines deliver a steady stream of pressurised air to keep the airways open while sleeping, thus preventing the collapse of the passageway and episodes of interrupted breathing.

For the most severe Covid-19 patients, ventilators are critical. However, for mild-to-moderate cases where patients are having some respiratory distress, these modified CPAP machines will provide the relief that is required.

The units are non-invasive and fill the need for readily available breathing apparatus, deployed and applied easily – even outside of hospitals if needs be – for intervention in cases where patients are at an early, non-intensive stage of respiratory distress caused by the Corona virus.

According to the Gift of the Givers Foundation, these devices were designed by the SA National Ventilator Group and the SA Radio Astronomy Observatory, manufactured by CSIR, certified by SAHPRA and funded by the Solidarity Fund. Gift of the Givers provided the logistical support.

Northern Cape Provincial Government

The acting CEO of Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital, Dr Alistair Kantani, Ahmed Jinnah – Gift of the Givers, Dr Dion Theys – acting HOD NC Department of Health, Dr Ahmed Byhat – Gift of the Givers and Maruping Lekwene – MEC of Health. Pic : DFA