NPO creates space for self-isolation

Jeppestown – In its quest to assist displaced community members in the inner-city, community the Mould Empower Serve (MES) community organisation has opened a facility for those who need to be self-isolated.

  In a statement the NPO said it is in partnership with the City of Joburg Social Development department, opened the Impilo facility in Jeppestown, formerly a HIV/Aids hospice, as an additional location to accommodate a new intake of displaced women and other people.

  MES has also collaborated with the National Department of Social Development across the country to take in more people at all their shelters during the national lockdown.

  Since the national lockdown, the organisation has kept its shelter operations and food distribution points open to help the high number of vulnerable people who come to their doorstep for assistance, the statement said.

  The organisation’s CEO Leona Pienaar said there is over 100 000 homeless people in Johannesburg; who are often subject to many communicable or pre-existing illnesses, and yet have no place to self-isolate.

   “There has been significant progress since our initial appeal to the public for donations and we are thankful for the support. So far we have been able to distribute over 100 food parcels to vulnerable families in our care. We waived fees for crèche parents for April to over 300 families, keep our shelters open, clean and safe, and offered two healthy meals per day to those residing in our shelters during this period, and we are extremely grateful for the support,” Pienaar said.

  She added that both their shelters in Joburg and the one in Kempton Park operate at full capacity.