Tuesday, 13 February 2024 – JSE-listed REIT, Octodec Investments Limited, proudly announces the opening of the Dis-Chem Community Clinic today in Tshwane. This collaborative initiative underscores Octodec’s commitment to improving the quality of services for communities in and around Tshwane by providing accessible and affordable healthcare.
Establishing a Community Clinic in Tshwane is a vision borne out of Dis-Chem’s existing community outreach initiative, which brings accessible and affordable healthcare services to those in need. In this spirit, Dis-Chem approached Octodec to provide space for an accessible inner-city clinic in Tshwane. The clinic’s primary objective is to offer affordable healthcare services, emphasising the principle that value is attached to even a minimal cost. The clinic will provide appointment-based visits, reducing the need for patients to endure long queues or walk-in visits. Basic medications will be available, and the clinic will refer patients with more severe conditions.
Commenting on this initiative, Octodec Managing Director Jeffrey Wapnick said, “The opening of the Dis-Chem Community Clinic marks a pivotal moment for both Octodec and the surrounding communities. By collaborating with Dis-Chem, we are creating a meaningful and lasting impact in bridging the gaps in South Africa’s healthcare landscape, particularly in areas with limited access to quality medical services. This initiative is strongly aligned to Octodec’s purpose of making meaningful and sustainable contributions to the communities we serve.”
Octodec upgraded a dedicated space to meet the clinic’s requirements and provides the clinic with rent-free occupation for a period of five years. For Octodec, providing a free-of-charge space for initiatives focused on delivering social responsibility and community support is a norm as. Octodec provides free rental space in their buildings to several charitable organisations, including Dignity Dreams, Cotlands, and Santa Shoebox.
Lizeth Kruger, Community Clinic Executive, further emphasised the importance of the clinic, stating, “Opening our clinic will afford us the opportunity to increase medical access to people that are really in need, who don’t have the money to go to private clinics or doctors, yet need preventative care. This clinic represents hope and empowerment for people who need quality healthcare services.”
This collaboration also builds upon Octodec’s established partnership with Dis-Chem and Future Life who joined forces in 2023 to alleviate child-hunger through their Feed the Future programme, which aims to serve more than two million nutritious meals to school children. Added to this, and in line with Octodec’s response to the growing need for quality healthcare services, the company has completed the construction for the Health Connect Medical Centre, in the Tshwane CBD. Health Connect primarily focuses on accommodating doctors and healthcare professionals by providing medical suites in the adjacent but connected building of Louis Pasteur Hospital.
