Accommodation relief launched to safeguard public healthcare workers

Media release

28 May 2020 

Public healthcare workers can now access private accommodation close to their workplace at no cost thanks to a joint initiative between Ubuntu Beds and the FirstRand SPIRE fund. The goal is to raise R16 million rand over the next four months.

As the South African healthcare system prepares for the peak of COVID-19, healthcare workers continue to run the risk of infecting their families and others while travelling to and from work. Since the virus hit, hundreds of healthcare workers have become infected, with nurses accounting for the majority of cases. A lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), over-exposure due to shortage of staff and long commutes in public transport are all said to have contributed to its spread.   

After contracting the virus herself, hotel owner Kim Whitaker launched Ubuntu Beds during March, in an attempt to unite hospitality businesses that now stand empty with healthcare workers. At the same time the SPIRE team were also pursuing similar initiatives, which has since resulted in the collaboration between the two organisations.

Ubuntu Beds founder, Kim Whitaker says: “The spirit of Ubuntu has been particularly prevalent amongst South Africans during this time. Ubuntu Beds has given us a way to show our gratitude to the healthcare heroes while supporting local tourism businesses. By offering accommodation it means they can keep their doors open and most importantly retain their staff.”

Each working to their respective strengths, Ubuntu Beds provides a database connecting supply and demand, while the FirstRand SPIRE Fund, offers access to their network of connections in order to negotiate pricing and also coordinate the management of the initiative. Through private donations and corporate sponsorship the initiative will be able to accommodate up to 2500 public healthcare workers.  

Jessica Spira, Sector Head for Healthcare and Hospitality at Rand Merchant Bank which contributed to the SPIRE fund, says: “We believe that by collaborating with Ubuntu Beds is a four-way win: health workers can be accommodated closer to their workplaces, health workers’ families are protected from being exposed, beds are filled, and job retention is improved in the hospitality and related services sectors.”

To date 59 ^[1]doctors and nurses have been placed and 869 ^[2]establishments with approximately 15 000 ^[3]plus rooms situated across the country, close to hospitals and clinics, have signed up to the platform. The average stay is between 7 and 14 days and is open to both the private and public healthcare sector. Healthcare workers have access to self-catering facilities, and in some instances Wi-Fi, TV, and laundry services.

Cleanliness is of utmost importance and all accommodation providers need to adhere to a cleaning guideline developed by Ubuntu Beds, based on the guidelines set out by the Department of Health for self-isolation and self-quarantine accommodation. Specialist cleaning companies do a deep clean post stay, which includes a COVID-19 fog, to ensure no cross-contamination occurs. Healthcare workers are aware of the risks, and scrub-off and scrub-on between the hospital and the accommodation.

If you are a healthcare worker needing accommodation, a hospitality business interested in offering your rooms and services, or you want to donate, please visit https://www.ubuntubeds.org/.

Also visit and follow us on social media. You can find us on:  

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ubuntubeds/
• Twitter - https://www.facebook.com/ubuntubeds/
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ubuntubeds/
• LinkedIn: com/company/ubuntubeds

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This press release was distributed on behalf of Ubuntu Beds. For interviews contact media@ubuntubeds.org or call Gwen Sparks on 083 443 0019

About the FirstRand SPIRE fund:

The South African Pandemic Intervention and Relief Effort (SPIRE) is a public benefit fund managed by the FirstRand group, and aims to make a sustainable difference with respect to dealing with the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa and key markets in the Broader Africa.

SPIRE aims to achieve this through accelerated interventions: SPIRE leverages the FirstRand group’s platforms, systems, client relationships and outreach ability to the top 1 000 SA corporates and more than 50 000 SMEs, as well as its active participation in key public-private sector COVID-19 initiatives, such the Business for South Africa (B4SA) Health and Economics streams and engagement with government, to ensure that prioritised outcomes can be proactively identified and effectively delivered. SPIRE prefers a collaborative approach in the way that it delivers outcomes.

Other partners:

The digital platform was made possible by some key pro bono partnerships, most notably:

• Nicework – A design studio that helps companies to grow using Purpose. Nicework designed our brand and website, and continues to assist us in creating content, managing social media, and designing anything else we need.
• ESRI South Africa – The map functionality that enables the map functionality to see the proximity of hospitals to accommodations
• Rainmaker Digital – an online platform that allows individuals and hospital groups to book accommodation

[1] This number is correct as of 28^th May 2020 and is subject to change. 

[2] This number is correct as of 28^th May 2020 and is subject to change.

[3] This number is correct as of 28^th May 2020 and is subject to change.