Rotary Family Health Days enabled hundreds of people from the Angelo Informal Settlement in Boksburg, to undergo free tests to gauge their health recently.
The national and Gauteng departments of health, as well as the Rotary clubs of Benoni, Benoni Aurora and Boksburg Lake, the Boksburg Lake Rotary Anns, plus the Benoni Lakes and Benoni Van Rhyn Lions clubs, took part in making the initiative possible.
Every year since 2013, Rotary clubs across the country have participated in the programme, which aims to educate people on basic health, plus give them a window into the state of their own bodies.
Blood pressure and blood sugar tests were done and there was a station where children were encouraged to wash their hands thoroughly.
St Francis Care Centre, based in Eveleigh, Boksburg, also showed their support on the day.
The centre’s representatives manned a tent where HIV testing and counselling, TB screenings, STI screenings and blood pressure were done.
The City of Ekurhuleni had several representatives on site, including those from the Aids Unit and a few nutritionists.
Blicks Maluleke (left) has her blood pressure tested by Rosemary Milligan (Boksburg Lake Rotary Anns).
Lethi Sitoe (left) is weighed by Takalani Mamphiswana, a nutritionist from the Gauteng Department of Health. At this station, people were weighed and their height and age was recorded, to calculate their body mass index (BMI).
Dineo Masuku (St Francis Care Centre) checks the blood pressure of Patrick Mohlala.
Seen here are (back, from left): Busisiwe Sibanyoni, Nkosingiphile Ntshangase and Lungile Khumalo. Front: Nemutanzhela Khuthadzo. They are from the St Francis Care Centre.
Lebo Ntjona (left, project manager), Nonkululeko Nyuza and Dineo Masuku, from the St Francis Care Centre. The centre’s representatives manned a tent, where HIV testing and counselling, TB screenings, STI screenings and blood pressure were done.
Charmaine and Ian Williams (president), from the Rotary Club of Benoni.
Seen here are (from left): Lerato Letsoalo, Eva Mmotla, Tebatso Thibela and Amanda Phuvhe. They are from the Gauteng Department of Health.
Residents from the Angelo informal settlement wait in line to have their details taken during the Rotary Family Health Days.
Linda Stokes (left, Rotary Club of Boksburg Lake) performs a blood sugar test on Nomxolisi Zondi. Zondi’s son, Wiseman (4), sits beside her.
Siboniso Gazu (left) and Lunga Tolo, from St Francis Care Centre, based in Eveleigh, Boksburg.
Bright Ngobeni (11 months) and Suzen Liphadzi wait in line at the body mass index (BMI) station.
Seen at the hand washing station are (from left): Sandy Bird, Wendy Smith and Sue Midgley, from the Boksburg Lake Rotary Anns.
Kgomotso Mnisi (left) and Nondumiso Simelane, from the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (Sanca). The representatives were present at the day to educate people on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. People could also sign up, if they felt they needed counselling.
Catherine Uteka (4) washes her hands under the guidance of Sue Midgley (Boksburg Lake Rotary Anns).
Wendy Smith (Boksburg Lake Rotary Anns) and Nicky Savvides (Rotary Club of Boksburg Lake president).
The Ekurhuleni Mobile Clinic was also at the site. Seen here are (from left): Lebohang Mokitimi (professional nurse), Jabulani Mdluli (driver/clerk), Josephine Madzhie (field worker) and Rita Warren (professional nurse).
Lynda Milligan-van Eeden and Francois van Eeden, from the Boksburg Lake Rotary Club.
Pam Daniell (left, Boksburg Lake Rotary Anns) and Michelle Badenhorst (dietician from Ekurhuleni Health District), were at the station where body mass index (BMI) was calculated. They also measured the upper arms of children above six months of age, to check for malnutrition.
Miehleketo Manzini (left) with Nomxolisi Zondi. Wiseman Zondi (4) stands in front.
Coceka Zita (left), Maureen Moroane, Constance Tjabadi and Eva Aphane, from the Aids Unit of Ekurhuleni.
Andiswa Ndude (left) has her blood pressure checked by Nonkululeko Nyuza (St Francis Care Centre).
Elizabeth Ngubeni (left), Thabang Mavuso and Nkosingiphile Ntshangase, from the St Francis Care Centre.
Janis van der Heiden from the Benoni Van Rhyn Lions Club.
Is the open mouth of Delina Madlathi (two months) just surprise, or some other thought? Her mother, Sidala Madlathi, is on the right.
Linda Stokes (left, Rotary Club of Boksburg Lake) performs a blood sugar test on Mpho Tshankoma, with Refilwe Andy Moila (2) watching.
The Ekurhuleni Mobile Clinic was present, providing education on family planning, plus immunisation against polio and measles, among others.
The mobile clinic has a set route, which takes the vehicle to several informal settlements within Boksburg, including Angelo, Delmore, Jerusalem and Comet.
The South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (Sanca) was present to educate passersby on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.
People could also sign up if they felt a need for counselling regarding substance abuse.
At the station of the Gauteng Department of Health, people were weighed and their height and age were recorded, to calculate their body mass index (BMI).
The station also measured the upper arms of children above six months of age, to check for malnutrition.
