Virgin Unite is challenging YOU to show your support for World AIDS Day by engaging in a RED activity this Thursday 1 December! From wearing red to work (our cabin crew have a head start here!) to taking part in a red cake bake – the world is your oyster! Post your photos of your red activities to Virgin Unite’s Facebook page or via twitter @virginunite to show your support.
Take a moment to read all about the impact of the Bhubezi Community Healthcare Centre, an initiative supported by Virgin Unite and Ulusaba, Virgin Limited Edition’s private game reserve. The Centre is a one-stop clinic for basic healthcare, TB and HIV/AIDS care, serving the local community in rural South Africa where most of the 500,000 population has limited access to health services and an estimated 20% are HIV positive.
Meet the newest member of the Bhubezi Centre team, Richard Ubisi
We caught up with Richard the newest member of the Bhubezi Community Healthcare Centre, team, to find out a bit more about him, his thoughts on the importance of World AIDS Day and the impact that Bhubezi is having on the local community…
Introducing Richard…
“My name is Richard, I am the Senior Manager for Clinical Services at the Bhubezi Clinic. I joined the Bhubezi Clinic on the 1st July 2011 having previously worked for the Matikwana Hospital as a General Manager and Marketing Manager there for the past 20 years. I have spent two decades of my working life in the health Industry, gaining Diplomas in: Human resources Management, Leadership Development, Financial Management as well as Hospital Management with the University Of Witwatersrand.
My current role at Bhubezi is managing the staff and finances as well as helping with the smooth running of the clinic and the compliance and standard procedures for the programme.”
How important do you think World AIDS Day is?
“World AIDS Day is on the 1st December every year and is the opportunity for people to unite in the fight against HIV. It is a day that brings together people from around the world to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. People all over the world gather to remember the dead, pray for the living and draw strength for the journey. Some institutions do candle light memorial, and also encourage people to do a test to ‘Know their Status’.”
What impact is the Bhubezi Clinic having in local community?
“Bhubezi Clinic serves the community of approximately 70,0000 people. This is the only Autonomous Treatment Centre in Bushbuckridge providing holistic community health services, with the emphasis on integrated primary healthcare, chronic disease management, reproductive health and support services. Bhubezi also offers Community Health Awareness Mobilisation Prevention Programs (CHAMP), targets HIV/AIDS and TB by providing intervention in the areas where there the epidemic is at its worst. The clinic renders a holistic care i.e. screening of patients, Laboratory Services, X-Ray and Pharmacy. The clinic has uplifted the economy of this rural area by recruiting 51 employees from the local community.”