Liberty Medical Scheme and Sappi’s Sandisa Imvelo Initiative – partners for nature and health

At Liberty Medical Scheme (LMS) we believe that caring for the environment is another way we can care for our members. We strongly recognise our responsibility as a corporate citizen – towards both our stakeholders and the environment within which we operate.

LMS and Sappi share a belief that every person is crucial to the success of growing a healthy environment, healthy people and a healthy planet. LMS takes a holistic approach to health, while Sappi focuses on sustainably green natural environments. LMS and Sappi have therefore partnered to launch the Sandisa Imvelo initiative – to help restore our environment and contribute to the health of communities.

LMS believes that health is about more than just physical wellness. It’s a combination of factors, including exercise and the environment, that empower members to own their health. Sappi, in turn, is concerned with restoring de–forested areas to their natural beauty, lowering carbon footprints and contributing to the health of local people and communities. Through the Sandisa Imvelo initiative, LMS and Sappi are working together to grow nature and health.

Cloud9Golf

Liberty Medical Scheme has committed to providing tailored health solutions for our members, and today, it makes us proud to be amongst the top medical schemes in South Africa. Our value–added services extend beyond our products, and this has enabled us to develop programmes that instil a culture of wellbeing by encouraging South Africans to make decisions that will preserve their greatest asset – their health.

One investment that the Scheme has proudly supported is the M–Net Cares Drive for the Cause campaign, in association with Liberty Medical Scheme and Cloud9Golf. The Drive for the Cause campaign has achieved a lot in terms of increasing awareness about breast cancer in the rural communities and townships. Uplifting communities is core to Liberty Medical Scheme’s Corporate Social Investment strategy and this campaign presented the Scheme with the perfect opportunity to further entrench awareness messages around chronic conditions such as breast cancer.

Through these initiatives, we are urging South Africans to invest in their health because prevention is better than cure. When you have the right information, you are able to make the best health decisions for yourself and your loved ones.

The community of Meadowlands in Soweto were all smiles when Liberty Medical Scheme officially opened Liberty Park in December 2010. The park was previously used as a dumping site which caused a host of health issues especially for the kids who looked to the streets for outdoor fun.

The park is an effort from Liberty Medical Scheme (LMS) to invest in communities facilitating a movement towards an active lifestyle. The park has swings, a mini basketball court as well as a huge grass area for other games – enough to keep the children busy, safe and healthy.

Executive Principal Officer at Liberty Medical Scheme, Andrew Edwards says, “Partnering with the community to drive upliftment is central to LMS’ Corporate Social Investment function. What was most rewarding about this particular project was the commitment and excitement shown by the community. They saw to employing a gardener for the park, they helped paint the walls and they have committed to helping us with maintaining the park. This is the kind of spirit that inspires us to do more, so hopefully we will be able to open another one in the future”.

In 2010, the Rhodes Trail Run, South Africa’s iconic Trail Race since 1989, had a total of 300 participants, running through snow in numbing sub–zero conditions at lung–searing thin air altitude. This Liberty Medical Scheme sponsored event is the most eagerly sought after run to participate in. The crisp, horizon–ending views from ‘up high’, blurred through tear–cluttered windswept eyes, are memories treasured long after frozen feet and fingers have thawed.

Andrew Edwards, Executive Principal Officer at Liberty Medical Scheme, says “Our sponsorship is only an extension of our drive towards encouraging South Africans to live an active life. Being active reduces health risks and therefore keeps medical costs low. It only gives us great pride to be able to keep alive platforms that get people moving”.

Gold medallist, Jana Beckett, participant from the Liberty Medical Scheme team, said that running in the frozen mountains was just amazing. Being surrounded by the stark beauty of the environment was exactly what she went for. Fellow participant, also from Liberty Medical Scheme, Chris Doyle, said that his first experience of the trail run was fantastic! For him, the race was a challenge but the atmosphere was incredible.

What makes this race even more special is the benefit to the community. Runners, who come from all over the world, take it upon themselves to help the communities with their specific needs such as books and clothing; and this culture of giving is something that Liberty Medical Scheme strives to instil amongst South Africans, whilst also promoting an active, healthy lifestyle.