Click here to listen to the mp3 advert for The Salvation Army's anti-human trafficking message

Click here to watch the footage taken by News24 at the Long Walk for Rhino's Mandela Day initiative at Robben Island School. (QVC donated Media Liaison to this initiative as part of its Mandela Day initiatives)

 Quo Vadis Communications on a field trip to KwaZulu Natal for client, Siyazisiza Trust.

Victoria Makalima, assistant Director for the Johnson and Johnson Burn Treatment Centre (left) and Roger Crawford, Executive Director, Worldwide Government Affairs and Policy for Johnson & Johnson (back right) happily assisted Nurse Ester Manson and clinical officer William Kalua from Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi throughout their two-week specialised training session at the Burn Treatment Centre at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. The training took place as a result of a public private partnership between the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Johnson & Johnson, and the University of North Carolina in USA. The hospital in Malawi recently opened a burn unit and the hands-on training Ester and William received at the leading burn treatment centre in Africa, will no doubt make a huge difference in the lives of those in need.

Released: 7th September 2011

Suicide is one of the top causes of unnatural death in South Africa; an indication that society is depressed because of stress factors which include financial troubles and unemployment, according to The Salvation Army’s medical department. 

“The perception most have is that it is a youth-only problem, but elderly people are just as susceptible to it due to factors such as depression and loneliness,” said Captain Piet Semeno, The Salvation Army’s Public Relations Secretary.

“While suicide may be primarily a medical or mental health problem, among others, we believe that protective factors such as social support play a significant role in its prevention,” Captain Semeno added.

As a result, The Salvation Army believes that an action needs to be taken so as to prevent people from intentionally taking their own lives or seeking the assistance of someone else to do so. 

“We support all measures to raise awareness of the risk of suicide,” he said. “In so doing, The Salvation Army promotes education of its staff, medical services, social services, teachers and pastoral carers in suicide prevention.”

Citing a study conducted by the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine early this year, Captain Semeno said that there are more than six thousand people who commit suicide in South Africa every year.

“These are alarming statistics. They show the depth of despair and loss of hope that people are experiencing,” he said.

“Prevention may be a matter of a caring person with the right knowledge and being available at the right place at the right time.”

He also said that special days like the World Suicide Prevention Day (10 September 2011) are very informative to people with regard to suicide issues.

“Suicide prevention should be everyone’s business,” Captain Semeno said.

World Suicide Prevention Day is an initiative led by the International Association for Suicide Prevention and the World Health Organisation that aims to

·         Improve education around the issue;

·         Decrease stigma; and

·         Raise awareness of the warning signs of suicide.

“In some cases, suicide threats may be interpreted as a form of manipulation,” said Captain Semeno. “However, it is important to consider such threats seriously and then determine the cause so that the necessary support and intervention can be provided.”

The Salvation Army takes interest in other people’s lives and, therefore, provides company in their loneliness and assistance in their despair. In doing so, it shares hope with those who need optimism and encourages those who are deeply discouraged.

The work done by The Salvation Army includes homes for babies and children with HIV/Aids, pre-schools, shelters for the homeless, emergency services, feeding schemes, centres for abused women and children, homes for abandoned children, prevention of human trafficking and assistance to the victims.

Last changed: Oct 28 2011 at 3:46 PM