Engen contributes to the cost of a new theatre for Red Cross Children's Hospital

Engen Petroleum Ltd today announced its decision to donate four-million Rand towards the construction of a much needed burns operating theatre at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in Cape Town.



Every year, more than 1000 children with severe burns are treated at the Red Cross Children's Hospital. Engen's donation towards a specifically-designed theatre will create the opportunity for surgeons to practice in an environment conducive to burns operations, as well as to significantly increase the hospital's capacity. Historically, due to limited resources, the Hospital has had to utilise one of its four fifty-year old operating theatres exclusively for burns operations, seven days a week.

As the largest distributor of paraffin to communities across South Africa, Engen's decision to sponsor the construction of a new Burns Operating Theatre at the Red Cross Children's Hospital Burns Unit is in line with its ongoing support of efforts to reduce paraffin related accidents through its education and awareness campaigns and its support of the Paraffin Safety Association of South Africa (PASASA).

Speaking at the Hospital today, Engen's CEO, Rashid Yusof said, "We trust that our four-million Rand investment in the construction of a new burns operating theatre here at the Red Cross Children's Hospital will enhance the ability of surgeons to provide life-saving and life-changing surgery which in turn will have a direct impact on the successful integration of burn victims back into society."



Said Ms Adrienne Coetzee, Director of the Children's Hospital Trust: "The Department of Paediatric Surgery at the Red Cross Children's Hospital is recognised throughout the world as a leading centre of excellence in surgery for children. But the Hospital was built in 1956, when the concepts of medicine and surgery were totally different from those of today.

Currently the operating theatres are inefficient and cramped. Engen's wonderful donation will enable us to build a new dedicated Burns Operating Theatre where more patients can be healed each year and surgeons are able to do critical training and research.

Engen can feel immensely proud as 100% of the money donated to the Children's Hospital Trust goes directly to the Red Cross Children's Hospital. Every cent that is donated will be used to put the new Burns Operating Theatre together, brick by brick".

Engen's donation is supported by its fundraising initiative with Santos Football Club - 'the Engen Santos "Goals for Charity" campaign' where a goal scored and a spectacular save made by the goal keeper in a game contributes R 2 000 towards the Engen Santos 'Goals for Charity' barometer.

Engen, together with Santos Football Club, is committed to raising R1 million by 2010. To date, the campaign has raised R350 000 over the past two seasons. The aim for the 2006/7 season is to raise R250 000.