DURBAN - AWARD-winning artist Lloyd Cele composed and produced a song called Thank You (Caring for the Carers) dedicated to health-care workers after he was approached by the South African Medical Association (Sama).
The song, which aims to honour health-care workers, highlights their hard work and dedication during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Cele said the inspiration for the song’s lyrics came from being moved by the plight of health-care workers when he was approached by Sama.
“As the public, we may not fully understand what the doctors and nurses out there go through, and this was my way of giving back and showing them that we see their efforts and understand and appreciate their sacrifice.”
Dr Angelique Coetzee, chairperson of Sama, said the body commissioned Cele to create a tribute song capturing the selfless acts of health-care workers during the country’s Covid-19 pandemic, to fulfil their obligations to patients.
“Health-care workers have worked against enormous odds to ensure continued quality care to patients. Many health-care workers have also put their own lives and those of their families at risk, and many have worked long hours to ensure care for patients. We think of those fallen heroes, who lost their lives through their selfless sacrifice to others who needed their services.
“Many health-care workers are experiencing severe physical and mental exhaustion from working extremely long hours in difficult conditions. We believe that during the year, every health-care worker in the country has genuinely exemplified Mandela Day by diligently doing their jobs. We want to give credit for this through this song,” says Coetzee.
THE MERCURY