The nursing staff of Mamre Community Day Centre took much needed health-care services to their community on Tuesday 16 July.
Residents of a local farm named Gate 6, approximately 5 km away from the clinic, were visited by the team, who partnered with the TB-HIV Care Association, a non-profit organisation, to provide testing for HIV, TB, diabetes and blood pressure.
The outreach was undertaken as part of the Health Department’s Community Oriented Primary Care (COPC) health drive.
The focus is to change the existing culture of engaging with health-care facilities, from only doing so in reaction to illness and for necessary care, to being a pro-active resource ensuring the health and wellness of the whole community, of addressing the most important challenges in an integrated manner together with the members of the community and partnership organisations.
Mauritia Benn, pharmacist at Mamre Clinic, said many of these clients visit the clinic on a weekly basis. Clients are happy to receive medical check-ups, especially as they do not have their own transport to attend clinic visits,” Benn said. The nursing staff said residents were open to testing and services.
“It was very exciting for me to do this outreach today,” shared Sr Ingrid Jooste.
“When they attend the clinic the patients are always in a rush and therefore not eager to have themselves tested.
“This time, however, the service was brought to them, and we had the opportunity to share the importance of being tested and raise awareness of how knowing their HIV status is important, especially if they take chronic medication.”
“The Mamre Community Day Centre is one of the department’s pilot sites in the province which is rolling out the COPC service,” said Natalie Watlington, Principal Communications Officer for the health department in the area.
The aim is to ensure the department’s goal of improving person-centred care, health outcomes and health equity in within our community is being reached.
