Education and health are inextricably linked, because illness is a major barrier to academic success. If a child is sick, his or her concentration is impaired, which could result in a failure to perform to fullest potential. Accounting for all the factors that affect education, we have supported various health initiatives in the community.

Addo Clinic Renovation
Learning about proper healthcare is one thing, but having access to excellent treatment is quite another. For that reason, UP reached out to Addo Clinic Nurse Jenny Rudman, who responded to our request for a dream list for renovations. In short order, UP donors raised enough funds to double the size of the Addo Clinic pharmacy, renovate and double the size of the waiting room, construct a shaded waiting space outside, build a waiting room for the new dental office, and more. As a result of this initiative, we dramatically expanded our impact on the Addo community by enriching the medical experience of thousands of residents from Nomathamsanqa, Valencia, Langbos, and the local farms.

School Restroom Renovations
The Samkelwe Senior Secondary School student toilets had not functioned properly for at least 10 years. The facilities for 750 learners were woefully inadequate, broken, unclean, and unhealthy - but 2020 changed all that. In January of that year, UP started and finished renovations of the boys’ and girls’ restrooms on two floors. We soon followed up with a renovation of the educator toilets in July. As Principal Nduna said, “This renovation has lifted us out of the doldrums.” The renovation not only will have a profound impact on everyone’s health, but it has already radically transformed the feeling of hope and dignity. The presence of both changes attitudes and behavior, and when that happens in a school setting, the sky is the limit. Please click here to learn more about this project.

Clean Water
Please click here to learn more about our clean water efforts.

Door-to-Door Medical Screenings
We supported local medical professional by funding door-do-door physical exams to measure blood pressure, weight, temperature, and blood sugar and to screen for HIV, tuberculosis, breast cancer, drug and alcohol abuse, mental health, and medication adherence. These unprecedented private visits eliminated the embarrassment and shame that come with health issues, which provided residents with a better understanding of disease, treatment, and prevention.

Medical Pamphlet Creation and Distribution
Door-to-door visits were impactful, but what about sustainability? To ensure that, with the help of American and South African medical personnel and UP volunteer Alyssa Kohler, UP drafted and funded a pamphlet that contains information about check-ups, medicine compliance, a healthy diet, disease prevention, symptoms, and treatment, the ramifications of drug and alcohol abuse, personal safety, stress management, and emergency numbers. We distribute the pamphlet to local clinics and schools and replenish supplies during each visit to South Africa.

MDF Instruments | Crafting Wellness
On two occasions, we partnered with MDF Instruments | Crafting Wellness, a philanthropic organization that supplies much-needed medical instruments to clinics-in-need. Through that partnership, we hand-delivered more than 40 stethoscopes and 10 blood pressure monitors to clinics in Addo, Moses Mabida Township, Nomathamsanqa Township, and Paterson Township, South Africa. Prior to that, the clinics had roughly four working stethoscopes for 40 nursing personnel and, at times, zero functioning blood pressure monitors. Not anymore…