SOSA Medical is known for providing medical aid to members of the community who cannot afford this lifeline. But what you might not know is that the organisation is constantly innovating new services, driven by the deep empathy and solutions mindset of founder and director, Rabbi Shaun Wingrin. Now, in addition to providing medical aid to over 100 Jewish families, SOSA is also raising funds to provide certain critical medications not available at public hospitals. “When I was receiving treatment recently at the Donald Gordon Medical Centre, my specialist, who worked at a public hospital, mentioned that the most important medication I take is not generally available at public hospitals, leading to very unfavourable outcomes. Digging a little deeper, I found that 50% of oncology drugs are not available to patients in state hospitals!” says Rabbi Wingrin. Taking immediate action, SOSA started a medications fund to ensure Jewish patients in State hospitals get the treatment they need.
Another incident prompted SOSA’s next innovation. “We found that when vulnerable Jewish patients are admitted to State hospitals, it can be impossible to reach them or their doctors to find out how they are and what they need. One elderly lady we assisted, fell and broke her hip and though surgery in the first 12-24 hours is optimal for recovery, she waited over four weeks, bedridden in government hospitals. After the operation, she was then sent home, unable to even get to the toilet on her own. So we’ve put together a team of nurses to check in with patients whilst in hospital, assist them and report back to us and their family on their wellbeing.”
These innovations are game changers for our community’s most vulnerable. But first prize is really to get them onto a basic hospital plan. “There are still many people who can’t afford this, but they also can’t afford not to have health insurance,” says Rabbi Wingrin. “A man in his 40s suffering from psychiatric illness was recently taken to a state hospital in error because his care team was unaware that thanks to SOSA he had a basic plan. His experience there was truly horrific. He waited in casualty for over 24 hours with no food – initially in a chair, then tied to a bed after he suffered a breakdown. He then spent 48 hours in isolation in the suicide ward. When we were finally able to get him released to a top private psychiatric hospital, he received 21 days of private care. This was all paid for in full by this basic medical plan. Surely everyone in our community deserves proper care?” asks Rabbi Wingrin.
SOSA is also on the brink of launching a solution to b’ezras Hashem greatly improve kosher hospital food at private hospitals. “With the guidance of a professional nutritionalists and an innovative logistics solution, our goal is to provide fresh, appealing, nutritious meals that truly support recovery – all within an hour of ordering. Please support our annual fundraiser launching on 23 November, raising R3,3 million for life-saving care. Every contribution will be doubled.
“These innovations are game changers for our community’s most vulnerable. But first prize is really to get them onto a basic hospital plan.”
