As a symbol of caring for the sick, learners of Makhado Comprehensive Secondary School handed out gifts to the patients of the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital a fortnight ago.

According to Ms Mokoditoa Lufuno, a teacher at the school, the main objective behind visiting the hospital was to make the children aware of the various diseases that people are suffering from. “We wanted the learners to refrain from engaging themselves in sexual activities that lead to teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases,” she said.

She further indicated that they also wanted the learners to be career orientated in health-related programmes. “We knew that by visiting the hospital, the learners would be able to see what really happened in the hospital. After visiting the hospital, learners will also get the information with regard to the career path they wanted to follow when they go to the universities,” highlighted Mokoditoa.

Apart from giving gifts to the patients, the learners were also offered career guidance at the hospital.

Two of the special patients who received gifts from the pupils were Mrs Mart Maree (85) of Louis Trichardt, the oldest patient in the hospital and Mrs Regina Ramauda of Tshikota, who gave birth to a baby girl 20 minutes before the learners arrived at the hospital.

In response to the visit, the chief executive officer at the hospital, Mr Godfrey Tshimauswu, expressed his appreciation for what the learners of Makhado Comprehensive had offered to the patients. “We are delighted to see that there are people out there who care for our patients as well.”