Blessed with the right script
Solly Suleman has given his time and expertise to those who needed it the most
IN 1983, Solly Suleman and a friend who trained together at university realised that medicines were a necessity, not a luxury, and should be accessible to life’s less fortunate. Out of this vision came Sparkport Pharmacy, the first to discount medicines in South Africa, and now a household name.
More than 30 years ago, Suleman was approached by three doctors to join the newly formed Islamic Medical Association of South Africa (IMA). Its focus would be on healers who believed they were the instruments of the Greatest of Healers – Allah; and doctors who would help the disadvantaged. The IMA now has four clinics and a mobile clinic.
He has been president of the IMA as well as chairman of its clinics committee; and initiated the IMA renal dialysis, Baytul Nur, and cataract programmes.
His wife, Faeeza Suleman, said while her husband was director of the Natal Kidney Association, “he was approached by a disheartened patient who had been turned away from a public sector hospital and effectively sent home to die”.
The outcome was the IMA renal dialysis programme. Recipients of free dialysis are supported through Muslim businesses and charities, and are put on to medical aid which entitles them to benefits after 12 months. The cataract programme conducts eye operations on those who had been on a waiting list for over two years.
“The Baytul Nur offers counselling, care for the elderly, home-based care training, health care education, establishes frail care centres, Muslim Aid projects, feeding schemes and assesses the sick and destitute to determine their eligibility for zakat (a form of alms giving). There are public hospital feeding schemes, programmes against violence on women and children, and marriage counselling,” she said.
Suleman is the former chairperson of the Ahmed Al Kadi Private Hospital (a dream of the founding fathers of the IMA). Uniquely, the IMA owns 26% of the equity and private shareholders the remaining 74%.
He is a founder member of the Al Ansaar Foundation. It established a community radio station, publishes a popular newspaper, convenes the largest annual Islamic International fair, bookshops and several humanitarian endeavours such as the outreach feeding scheme.
Suleman was also one of the founders, as well as a past president of the Minara Chamber of Commerce, which encourages the Islamic wy of doing business. It has outstanding relationships with foreign embassies, national, provincial and local government departments.
Suleman mentors upcoming entrepreneurs.
He is a member of the World Memon Organisation and was assistant secretary general of its Africa chapter. He is a trustee and member of the board of management of the Darul Yatama Wal Masakeen, which provides homes for the elderly, runs orphanages, and has a unit for abandoned babies.
The South African Pharmacist Association, which represents black pharmacists, the Pharmacy Stakeholders forum, the Independent Community Pharmacy Association of SA comprising 1 100 pharmacies, have all gained from Suleman’s tireless work.
“Eight years ago he was appointed to the National Health Insurance Ministerial Advisory Committee by the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, to advise on the establishment of an NHI in South Africa,” said Faeeza.