Video launched to raise awareness for hospital

The video shows children being pushed on hospital beds through various terrains, until they reach the site where the hospital will be built - adjacent to the Wits University Medical School in Parktown, Johannesburg.

Sibongile Mkhabela, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital Trust, hosted an exclusive lunch for the viewing of the video. She was joined by some of NMCHT's South African celebrity ambassadors featured in the video, as well as ambassadors of NMCHT's For Kids By Kids Campaign, Sam Harding and Michai'ah Simons.

In addition to having donated the land on which the hospital will be built, Wits University will be an academic partner of the hospital's, helping build the crucial capacity that will have a reach not only across the country but across the region too. The hospital is a unique project in that capital funding is coming entirely from donors, while operational expenditure will be provided by the Department of Health. The project affords every South African, and individuals around the world, an opportunity to make a contribution toward its construction, however small.

Offering expertise

Creative director Adam Heyns and his team from GLITCHWORKS, took on this video project pro bono as their way of contributing to Madiba's legacy. The result is a heart-warming video that reflects what the hospital will be once it has been built. "Heyns and his team embody what the hospital fundraising project is about; ordinary citizens volunteering their expertise and resources to help raise funds for the hospital," said Mkhabela.

The Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital will be Nelson Mandela's living legacy and will ensure that no child is turned away from the care they need due to an inability to pay. The Pushing for Beds video will be shown on NMCHT's YouTube channel for now, with television dates to be announced soon. South African citizens can help make Nelson Mandela's dream come true and SMS the word GIFT to 40301 (terms, conditions and network administration costs apply, SMS cost R20) or go to www.nelsonmandelachildrenshospital.org.