COO of QASA, Raven Benny, stated that the QuadPara Association of South Africa (QASA) is cognizant of the efforts that have been put in place to combat COVID-19 with more and more people suffering due to a lack of income, access to healthcare and food.
People with disabilities at risk
People with disabilities are among the worst affected during this current global pandemic. They are some of the most vulnerable groups to falling severely ill with COVID-19 because of their compromised immune systems. In addition, the national lockdown has had devastating financial impacts.
“QASA is cautious of the effect it will have on its members. Many rely solely on the meagre R1, 860 per month disability grant from SASSA, while others have lost the chance of earning income from not being able to return to work due to added commodities,” he added. While many businesses are closing and individuals are losing their source of income, people with disabilities are in dire need of assistance to supplement their grants or income.
QASA relief fund
Fortunately, for quadriplegics and paraplegics in South Africa, QASA has established its COVID-19 relief fund that will offer support during this difficult time.
“QASA has reprioritised some of its resources and is committed to reaching out to our members through this fund. However, we cannot sustain the fund on our own. We need support from our fellow South Africans and businesses alike,” added Benny.
Call for donations
Donations can be made via the QASA COVID-19 relief fund BackaBuddy campaign (https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/qasa-covid-19-relief). Alternatively, you can send a donation via EFT to: account holder: QASA, account number: 730570406, branch code: 632 005 and reference: COVID-19.
Upon request, QASA will provide donors with a Section 18A Tax Exemption Certificate for their donations. “QASA is very grateful for the response we’ve had so far towards our plea for contributions towards this fund. Thank you very much to those who have made donations over the past week,” Benny said in closing. Quadriplegics or paraplegics, who may require any form of assistance, can contact the QASA head office during office hours between 8am and 4pm by calling 031-767-0348. Alternatively, they can send an email to info@qasa.co.za.
More about QASA
QASA is considered to be the leading agency representing persons with spinal cord injury and physical disability in South Africa. This is an NPO of quadriplegics and paraplegics with the vision that all quadriplegics and paraplegics will live their lives to their full potential.
Their mission is to improve lives by securing resources to advocate, educate, capacitate, support and mobilise.
The organisation strives to develop products, projects and services as well as lobbying, advocacy and prevention of programmes to develop capacity among its members to offer opportunities for workplace and societal integration.
QASA’s flagship project is the education, skills development and employment project which is for young unemployed persons with physical disability. This project provides education, skills development, driver training and employment opportunities for them. The project received a Change Agent Recognition Award from SABPP in September 2019 for Employment Equity Development and Transformation.
The QASA website is currently under construction so for more information and updates you can visit their Facebook page, QuadPara SA.
Source: – https://risingsunoverport.co.za/86056/quadpara-association-of-south-africa-launches-covid-19-relief-fund/
