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Stay in touch with loved ones with free wifi when cancer gets you down

Stay in touch with loved ones with free wifi when cancer gets you down

“When a person is undergoing treatment for cancer, he or she is under tremendous duress. The last thing we want them to worry about is how to stay in touch with loved ones, family and friends” said the Managing Director of Paratus Telecom, John D’Alton (left) earlier this week when he announced free wifi for the Cancer Association of Namibia.

Cancer Association Chief Executive, Rolf Hansen (right) could not agree more. Thanking Paratus, he said they can not fulfill their mandate were it not for the support of sponsoring partners. “This support helps the Cancer Association to avoid expenses on administrative functions, instead using our available funds to support cancer patients through the Patient Financial Assistance Programme.”

Paratus has installed free internet and wireless internet at the association’s head office, the CHICA Interim Home and the House Acacia Interim Home in Windhoek. All three facilities are in close proximity of each other.

D’Alton said many Namibian have been affected by cancer, either directly as patients or indirectly as a loved one close to a cancer patient. “Having gone through this experience ourselves, we at Paratus asked what we can do for the Cancer Association to make life easier for the people under its care.”

“With social media taking over, it is an important link between a cancer patients and his or her family and friends and it is the easiest thing in the world to provide free internet and free wifi to help these people,” he said.

“Contact and support is so important for a person receiving treatment. Whenever patients need to talk to their loved ones, they need not worry about connectivity, it is provided by Paratus.”

D’Alton said their whole company will again support the Cancer Association’s Movember campaign. “We call it Paratus Bearded Men to show our solidarity with the work of the association. Last year we collected N$100,000 for the Cancer Association and this year it is our intention to improve our own record.”

D’Alton revealed that they will launch another cancer-supporting event next week Thursday. This they call the Jockey Run. The ideas is to entice a large number or runners to participate. Again the net proceeds will go to the Cancer Association. Asked what a Jockey Run is, D’Alton said every runner will have to make that interpretation for him or herself.


 

 

About The Author

Mandisa Rasmeni

Mandisa Rasmeni has worked as reporter at the Economist for the past five years, first on the entertainment beat but now focussing more on community, social and health reporting. She is a born writer and she believes education is the greatest equalizer. She received her degree in Journalism at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) in June 2021. . She is the epitome of perseverance, having started as the newspaper's receptionist in 2013.