04 Aug 2013

Francistown Institute of Health Sciences (IHS) on Saturday, held a 10km sponsored walk in the city to raise funds for charitable causes. The walk was held under the theme: Towards Building a House for a Needy Person.

Acting IHS principal, Mr Zibani Bagai said through Francistown City Council’s social welfare department, they had identified an 87-yea- old needy woman residing temporarily in Somerset. She also livies with her daughter and five grandchildren.

Mr Bagai said since 2010, they have been assisting the 87 year old woman with clothing and food hampers but realised that she needs a permanent place which she can call home.

“Food and hampers are not good enough looking at her needs and the unconducive lifestyle she is living. We managed to secure a plot in Donga where a house will be built for her,” Mr Bagai said. Furthermore, he said as an institution, they could not live in isolation and as such have a role to play.

He pleaded with other organisations to offer a helping hand with resources. Mr Bagai also said in line with the country’s vision 2016 pillars calling for compassion, their institution felt obliged to play a leading role.

He mentioned that they held activities like football matches and circulated requests through students to solicit funds from the community.

The IHS Campus Community Services chairperson, Ms Mbonga Lebani said their aim is to raise around P60 000. She said their main target is to hand over the house by the end of this year. She said they plan to start on the foundation of the house at the beneficiary’s plot in a week’s time, where they will also erect a fence and install water. 

She noted that they work closely with the student representative council to raise funds and currently they have received a positive response from students.  ENDS