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Beds of Hope Campaign
University of the Free State
South Africa

The Problem

There was a concern that the hospitals in Free State Province were functioning without basic equipment, or antiquated equipment that needed to be repaired, replaced or updated. There was no specialized health care in fields of Intensive care, Oncology, Cardiology, Neurology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterereology, Neonatology and Infectious Diseases within the ambit of Academic Health complex for over 30 years.

Solution and Key Benefits

 What is the initiative about? (the solution)
Babies and children at Universitas Hospital and Academic complex are beneficiaries of this project.
The Carl and Emily Fuchs Foundation donated R1. 5 million while Carte Blanche, through the Make a Difference campaign aided the campaign by pumping in R6 million for equipment.
Over the period of the first three years the Beds of Hope campaign collected R4 million in cash and about R10 million in donation in kind.
14 beds in the Neonatal Intensive care unit were upgraded and equipped. Five beds in Paedatric ICU were upgraded as well. High Care Unit was also developed.
It is estimated that 3 600 lives over the 2009 year have been saved through the expansion of Intensive Care capacity.

Actors and Stakeholders

 Who proposed the solution, who implemented it and who were the stakeholders?
The Beds of Hope project was started by Professor Andre’ Venter who is the Professor and Academic Head of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health of the Faculty of Health Science at the University of the Free State.

The stakeholders are the University of the Free State, Department of Health, local business community, citizens in the city of Bloemfontein and the entire province of the Free State.Children and mothers are the main beneficiary stakeholders of this initiative.

(a) Strategies

 Describe how and when the initiative was implemented by answering these questions
 a.      What were the strategies used to implement the initiative? In no more than 500 words, provide a summary of the main objectives and strategies of the initiative, how they were established and by whom.
Cash donations were channeled into an investment worth R3 million as an endowment. It is envisaged that only the interest on this investment will be used for projects.
There is a Board consisting of all the consultants in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health. There is even a financial committee in the project.
National coverage in the media and the seed money that was received from Carl and Emily Fuchs has helped the project a great deal.

(b) Implementation

 b.      What were the key development and implementation steps and the chronology? No more than 500 words
Within a short space of time (three years) the Intensive Care Units of the hospitals attached to the university can now be compared with the best in the country and the lives of the children who are suffering from potentially fatal diseases are saved.
The campaign’s aim was to procure state of the art equipment to provide for the specialized health care needs of the children and babies and in so doing promote optimal health, growth and development within the ambit of the academic health complex.
The project is now in its second phase with the vision of consolidating the good that has been done in intensive cares so far and developing services for children with cardiac problems.
The initiative was strated in 2007

(c) Overcoming Obstacles

 c.      What were the main obstacles encountered? How were they overcome? No more than 500 words
The lack of funds to implement the project was one of the obstacles.This was, however, overcome.The project has numerous creative ways of fundraising: Relationship with Leef magazine that saw the Beds of Hope Campaign getting a donation of R9 425 from 63 readers of the magazine. The Practice Relief in Bloemfontein is now using team building events to fundraise for Beds of Hope.
Kovsie Rag, Bloemfontein Rose Ball, Rainbow Rally, basket Ball events and Angel of Hope activities are some of the activities that are fundraising for the Beds of Hope campaign.Cash donations were channeled into an investment worth R3 million as an endowment. It is envisaged that only the interest on this investment will be used for projects.
There is a Board consisting of all the consultants in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health. There is even a financial committee in the project.

(d) Use of Resources

 d.      What resources were used for the initiative and what were its key benefits? In no more than 500 words, specify what were the financial, technical and human resources’ costs associated with this initiative. Describe how resources were mobilized
The project has numerous creative ways of fundraising: Relationship with Leef magazine that saw the Beds of Hope Campaign getting a donation of R9 425 from 63 readers of the magazine. The Practice Relief in Bloemfontein is now using team building events to fundraise for Beds of Hope.
Kovsie Rag, Bloemfontein Rose Ball, Rainbow Rally, basket Ball events and Angel of Hope activities are some of the activities that are fundraising for the Beds of Hope campaign.

Sustainability and Transferability

  Is the initiative sustainable and transferable?
The project is transferable and sustainable. This is one of the projects that are the cornerstone of Millenium Development Goals (MDGs). It is saving lives. It has saved an estimated 3 600 lives already. A project of this nature is an international example of endeavours to meet some of the MDGs.
In the context of a developing country there will always be a need and space for projects of this nature.South Africa has endorsed the MDGs and has included health in the list of its priorities for development of the country. South Africa and many other developing countries need more of this kind of initiative to contribute to own development and to contribute to Millenium Development Goals, sve the lives of children and mothers from potentially fatal diseases.

Lessons Learned

 What are the impact of your initiative and the lessons learned?
The existence of the University of the Free State. The seed money from Carl and Emily Fuchs. Endowment Policy of R3 million. Relationships with CEOs of companies. It is essential to have a good financial plan of action. Have the right kind of people to be involved in fund raising and managing fund raising events. It takes a great deal of time to visit many companies and CEOs in order to establish some kind of relationships.
Patience as things do not happen overnight.

Contact Information

Institution Name:   University of the Free State
Institution Type:   Academia  
Contact Person:   Andre' Venter
Title:   Head and Professor:Department of Paediatrics and C  
Telephone/ Fax:   27+51 405 3181
Institution's / Project's Website:   27+51 444 3230
E-mail:   gnpdav.md@ufs.ac.za  
Address:   PO Box 339, BLOEMFONTEIN
Postal Code:   9300
City:   Bloemfontein
State/Province:   Free State Province
Country:   South Africa

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