Sasol Limited Sustainability Report 2021 - Book - Page 40
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SUSTAINABILITY PERFORMANCE AGAINST OUR FOCUS AREAS: GROWING SHARED VALUE – SASOL IN SOCIETY (CONTINUED)
Supporting access to quality healthcare
Our community development programmes
are premised on the needs of those
closest to our fenceline, understanding
that we have a symbiotic relationship,
more so because our employees live
in these communities. Investing in the
infrastructure surrounding our operations
and in the health of our communities is
good business.
Theme
Quality community
healthcare
Purpose
Progress
Our community health programmes are aimed at
improving the quality of life of communities through
better access to quality health systems and community
services as well as improvement of health outcomes.
In a time where our health system is under severe pressure we continue to invest in community health
infrastructure and we have constructed and upgraded a number of hospitals and clinics in our fenceline
community. Sasol also supported hospitals with the provision of equipment and PPE and continued
with our support to youth to address substance abuse and addiction.
Sasol invests extensively in Sasolburg’s health facilities
Since 2013, Sasol has partnered with the Free State Department of Health and invested
R51,85 million in improving various healthcare facilities, support and access in the Metsimaholo
Local Municipality.
In addition to this, Sasol has helped upgrade the Zamdela, Thusanang and Harry Gwala clinics to reach ideal
clinic status to improve quality of healthcare to the Metsimaholo community. The upgrades were carried out
by a Zamdela-based construction business.
As one example, Sasol built a new clinic in Sasolburg that serves a catchment area of more than
16 000 people. The new 700m² building consists of three blocks, situated on a 1 400m² erf provided
by the Metsimaholo Local Municipality. The Free State Department of Health provided all the
necessary equipment to make the clinic functional.
Another key intervention is that Sasol provided four fully equipped mobile clinics to the Free State Department
of Health to reach more than 15 000 patients.
Key features of the new clinic include seven consulting rooms, four waiting areas that can seat
126 patients, and a modern dispensary. A dedicated consulting room for tuberculosis (TB) patients
is also provided.
The new clinic has dramatically increased the health service capacity in the area.
Our approach
We invest in programmes that support and improve
systems that are able to sustain our communities. It is
often the most marginalised members of a community
that are impacted by lack of access to service delivery,
often leaving them exposed to numerous health and
safety risks. We recognise that it is not the primary role
of Sasol to provide municipal services, but as a partner
in the many regions in which we operate (particularly
in South Africa and Mozambique) we understand that
we have a role to play in supporting local government
efforts to create an enabling environment for both
communities and businesses to thrive. This is the
reason we invest in:
• Infrastructure development;
• Health and wellness programmes for healthier
communities who will be productive and in turn
contribute positively to society; and
• Disability programmes.
This is why collaboration with local governments
to provide access to basic healthcare services and
infrastructure facilities is key to our success.
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Sasol Sustainability Report 2021
Since 2017, Sasol has also invested R31,8 million to upgrade the Fezi Ngubentombi District Hospital, previously
known as the Sasolburg Hospital.
Finally, Sasol has been running an HIV/AIDS Support Programme in partnership with the Free State Department
of Health as well as the Nurse-based Initiation of Antiretroviral Project and Epilepsy SA. The main objective
of this programme is to expand access to TB, HIV and sexually transmitted infection screening, testing and
counselling to communities in the Metsimaholo and Ngwathe Municipalities.