Help pours in for ailing Motherwell woman

The pleas of an anxious community have been heard.

Within hours of an ailing Motherwell woman’s story being published in The Herald, help in the form of food, medical care and grant access was availed to Andy, 31 (not her real name).

Andy is unable to bathe or feed herself.

She spends most of her days on a mattress on the pavement in front of her NU10 home in the Gqeberha township.

She is so thin that her bones even ache.

She is also HIV-positive and was recently diagnosed with TB.

Ward 55 councillor Ntombizodwa Nyati visited her home yesterday and said her health had deteriorated since a Herald reporter visited earlier this week.

“I returned [after a visit on Wednesday] on May 6 with a social worker,” Nyati said.

“Andy could not talk and, the social worker helped to get Andy’s sister, 25, a grant for people who take care of people that are not well.

“While they were bathing her, I went to the Thanduxolo clinic where I was informed that she had defaulted on her TB and HIV treatment.

“I told them I wanted to bring her.

“When Andy arrived she was put on oxygen and given a drip, and a bed has been booked for her at the Bay’s Dora Nginza Hospital.”

Nyati said when she returned to Andy’s home to wait for the ambulance to take her to Dora Nginza, a food parcel was delivered to the home by Sassa.

Speaking from the ambulance on their way to the hospital, Andy’s sister confirmed she had completed and submitted the necessary documents for assistance from the department of social development.

“Andy said her body was sore at about 1am. We are on our way to Dora Nginza Hospital now.”

Andy’s neighbour, Nondyebo Matini, 62, said she was certain Andy was not well due to hunger.

By Wednesday afternoon, humanitarian foundation Gift of the Givers and the provincial Sassa office had pledged assistance.

Gift of the Givers Eastern Cape project manager Corene Conradie, when told of Andy’s plight, promised to deliver two months’ worth of food supplies to Andy and her family on Monday. Further assistance could also be expected.

Provincial Sassa spokesperson Luzuko Qina said its officials had contacted Andy to arrange a disability grant.

Eastern Cape social development department spokesperson Mzukisi Solani said the department would first need to establish a household profile to get a full picture of the situation at Andy’s home.