Discovery Limited

Celebrating healthcare heroes in South Africa. The annual Rural Health Conference, hosted by the Rural Doctors Association of South Africa (RUDASA), recently brought together passionate healthcare professionals at the Olifants River Lodge, Mpumalanga. The event was an inspiring mix of networking, knowledge sharing, and recognition of the incredible work being done in rural health. Dr Vincent Maphai, Chairperson of the Discovery Foundation, delivered an inspiring keynote address, honouring the dedication of healthcare workers in our communities. He emphasized that “Rural health is vital to the future of South Africa. The commitment of everyone here today is what truly makes our country a better place. The Discovery Foundation exists to support your efforts, but you are the real heroes”. The conference featured diverse speakers, innovative sessions, and workshops designed to upskill rural healthcare workers in a dynamic, participatory environment. The conference also highlighted the vital work of RUDASA, Rural Nursing South Africa (RuNurSA), the Professional Association of Clinical Associates in South Africa (PACASA), and Rural Rehab South Africa (RuReSA) in advocating for better healthcare in rural areas. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/em6ExHPE #RUDASA2024 #DiscoveryFoundation #DiscoveryFund

Discovery Insure with Avis are excited to shine a light on Kamogelo Sebopa, a dedicated student at the Discovery Pothole Patrol Training Academy. She is eager to learn and use her new skills to promote safer roads and make a positive impact on her community. The Discovery Pothole Patrol Training Academy is a vital part of Discovery Insure’s mission. Stay tuned as we keep sharing the stories of some of our dedicated students, each preparing to contribute to safer roads and stronger communities. #BetterWithDiscoveryInsure

𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗗𝗿 𝗚𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗹𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗞𝘄𝗮𝗭𝘂𝗹𝘂-𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹. As we celebrate Women’s Month, it is an opportune moment to acknowledge healthcare professional, Dr Gillian Douglas, the Head of Psychology at Ngwelezana Tertiary Hospital in KwaZulu Natal and a recipient of the 2022/2023 Discovery Foundation Rural Institutional Awards. When Dr Douglas arrived at the hospital five years ago, the mental health landscape was bleak. The hospital had only two psychologists, and the surrounding 16 district hospitals had an additional two. This meant that four psychologists were responsible for the mental health needs of about three million people in northern KwaZulu-Natal. Dr Douglas emphasises a holistic approach, where staff are trained to recognise and address mental health problems early on. “We’re living in a community with high incidences of gender-based violence, sexual trauma, and all kinds of poverty. All those things have an impact on people’s mental health,” she explains. “One of the challenges we have is working in an area where going to see a psychologist is not necessarily people’s first line when they are dealing with relational issues,” she says. She recalls a story of a patient who walked two hours to her local district hospital and then took a bus in the middle of the night to Ngwelezana Hospital. “She’d arrived in the early hours of the morning having barely slept on the bus. She then waited until 11 o’clock to see me for one short hour and then had to redo that process,” she recalls. The grant from the Discovery Foundation will aid in further training, particularly in assessing children with developmental and intellectual disabilities and upskilling social workers, occupational therapists, and other doctors. Dr Douglas and her team have initiated an outreach programme. “The outreach has two components,” she explains, “One is to train and support the staff at these 16 district hospitals; nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, and counsellors. The other side is providing clinical services.” This dual approach aims to empower local healthcare providers while directly addressing the mental health needs of the community. #WomensMonth

Empowering women: Navigating financial realities! We stand in partnership with the FSCA South Africa this Women’s Month. Let’s dispel financial myths and delve into the unique complexities faced by women, emphasising the crucial role of familial support. Join us as we share valuable insights and practical tips to navigate financial challenges. For more financial education information visit www.fscamymoney.co.za #FSCA #Discovery #DSYFinancialEducation #WomensMonth

In the fourth instalment of our #DiscoveryGreen five-part series, we share insights into our innovative product offering. Our mission is to provide businesses with renewable energy products that are affordable and price certain. Our #DiscoveryGreen five-part series explores how we plan to make this vision a reality. Our products are designed to ensure that businesses benefit from lower electricity prices, with the assurance that these costs will never increase by more than the Consumer Price Index (CPI). We are proud to be the first company in South Africa to guarantee that we can meet 100% of a business’s electricity needs using renewable energy. Our aim is to support those companies that have made significant #ESG commitments, helping them to achieve their sustainability goals. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to revolutionise the renewable energy sector. #RenewableEnergy #DiscoveryGreen #TheFutureOfEnergy #ESGTargets #CarbonNeutral

Dr Maritha Van Der Walt, Chief Medical Officer of Discovery Life, sheds light on the importance of screenings and early detection for severe health conditions. Complementing this, Gareth Friedlander, Deputy CEO of Discovery Life, also highlights the importance of early detection and comprehensive cover. For more insights and a detailed analysis, listen to this podcast episode now. https://lnkd.in/d-gmwTh8

"Discovery is founded on a core purpose of making people healthier and enhancing and protecting their lives. Since inception we have understood that business is not detached from social and environmental issues but exists to help address these issues in a sustainable way. Simply put, business cannot thrive without improving the society and environment in which it operates.” – Adrian Gore   Discovery is determined to be an exceptional employer, excellent partner and a good corporate citizen. We are also deeply committed to nation building and protecting our planet. We are proud to have recently achieved our Net Zero Waste accreditation for 1 Discovery Place. This accreditation represents a significant milestone in environmental sustainability, reflecting Discovery’s commitment to continuously reduce company generated waste sent to landfill. This prestigious certification signifies that we have successfully diverted 90% or more of our waste away from landfills through on-going initiatives such as recycling, composting and using recyclable or biodegradable product on site. Achieving Net Zero Waste status is crucial not only for reducing environmental impact but also for enhancing corporate responsibility. This demonstrates leadership in sustainability, meets growing consumer demand for eco-friendly practices, and contributes to the global effort to mitigate climate change and preserve natural resources for future generations. As confirmed by Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA), Discovery is the fourth organisation to achieve GBCSA's Net Zero Waste Level 2 certification for 1 Discovery Place. 

Revolutionising neonatal care: South African Breastmilk Reserve introduces the new SoSAFE pasteuriser It fills us with immense pride to collaborate with the South African Breastmilk Reserve (SABR) through the Discovery Fund because it focuses on one of the pivotal areas of our support in communities – maternal and child health. During World Breastfeeding Week, with the theme Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding support for all, SABR introduced the SoSAFE pasteuriser – a sixth generation, locally produced and assembled device that can revolutionise infant nutrition. Stasa Jordan, Executive Director of SABR, says, “Breastfeeding is a life-saving strategy that promotes food security and improves outcomes for infants globally. The launch of the SoSAFE pasteuriser is a step forward in closing the gap and ensuring that all infants have access to the best possible nutrition.” Since 2003, the SABR, a not-for-profit, human milk-banking organisation, has been at the forefront of addressing the urgent needs of the most vulnerable infants in South Africa, particularly those born prematurely or with low birth weights, often as little as 500 grams. To date, the SABR has provided donated breastmilk to 50,000 premature babies, with an average of 4,000 babies receiving donated breastmilk for two to four weeks every year. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), improving breastfeeding rates could save over 820,000 children's lives every year. In the past 12 years, the global rate of exclusive breastfeeding for infants under six months has risen by over 10%, now reaching 48%. This progress saves countless lives and brings us closer to the WHO goal of 50% by 2025. However, challenges remain, and that is why the work of organisations like SABR is so critical. We are on a continuous journey with SABR to support the best possible nutrition for vulnerable infants. The Discovery Fund extends our core purpose – to make people healthier and to enhance and protect their lives – beyond our clients to touch the lives of communities. We celebrate the introduction of this groundbreaking innovation in our healthcare landscape with SABR as they continue their work to promote breastfeeding as a life-saving strategy. #WorldBreastfeedingWeek2024 #SoSAFEPasteurizer #SABR #DiscoveryHealth #NeonatalCare

Empowering financial knowledge this Women’s Month! We continue our collaboration with the FSCA South Africa. This week, we’re debunking financial scam myths. Keep an eye out for our weekly posts this month with practical tips to safeguard your finances! #FSCA #Discovery #DSYFinancialEducation #WomensMonth

One thing we pride ourselves on at Discovery, is the liberation that our people have to innovate, develop and inspire others. Ashti Juggath is no different and her role at Discovery contributes immensely to the business decisions that are required to provide healthy solutions for our customers and the country at large. Outside of working in a complex drug risk environment, she is also the published author of an Award Winning novel – Peaches and Smeets. We are truly inspired by Ashti’s courage to document and share her story with the world. #InsideDiscovery #IAMInspired