The Booth Memorial Hospital in Oranjezicht celebrated patient recovery milestones and honoured their staff, while raising funds, at the Back to Booth event last Friday.

Initiated by speech therapist Tyra Gideon, the event aimed to inspire patients and raise awareness about the hospital’s role in the community.

“Many of our former patients have achieved remarkable recoveries thanks to the collective efforts of our team and their determination. We want to honour these successes and inspire those who are just beginning their recovery journey,” said Ms Gideon.

“We are hoping to make this an annual event and we will look at making it happen next year again,” she said.

According to its website, the hospital opened its doors in 1917. During its time as a maternity unit, 27 000 babies were born there. “For a number of years, the hospital was a long-term frail age facility, after which it re-opened as a sub acute hospital, owned and managed by The Salvation Army and funded by the Western Cape Department of Health.”

The Booth Memorial hospital therapy team, from left: Desré Jacobs, Renée Jansen, Jamilah Ashraff, Jamie-Lee Nomdo, Major Yvonne Wood, Major Allister Wood and crouching is Tyra Gideon.

Funds raised will support vital needs, including new beds, wheelchairs, roof and lift repairs, and general maintenance — urgent challenges following the financial strain of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It was a fantastic event, good memories were made and it was good for me to see people that once was sick are well now, they are out of their dark situation, like me, I was once in dark place too,” said Mark Europa, who had his left leg amputated below the knee.

“I was a patient here and it’s so nice to come back. It was a wonderful day and there were tears of joy shed,” said Candy Ntunzi who recovered from a stroke last year.

Ms Gideon thanked their sponsors. “To Mr Lorens Reichert, the senior partner at Holborn Assets South Africa for sponsoring the catering costs. Thyme caterers provided food for the event and generously donated all of the sweet treats in addition to the savoury boxes. Michael Gideon Designs donated a sterling silver earring and pendant set that was raffled off at the event.”

The hospital is in need of physical equipment such as beds and wheelchairs as well as financial contributions for general maintenance, and potential donors can contact Major Allister Wood at 021 465 4846 or email allister.wood@saf.salvationarmy.org

From left: former patient Alan Springorham, physiotherapist Jamie-Lee Nomdo, physiotherapist Desré Jacobs and Mark Europa. Picture: Tyra Gideon.