Local doctors commit to taking care of their communities

The community outreach programme, where community members with chronic diseases were screened, took place at Dr Stoffel’s Surgery in Extension Two, Vosloorus.

After the screening, community members were also given free medication and advice on how to keep their illness under control.

Dr Rebecca Stoffel, who runs the surgery, said this was their way of giving back to the community.

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“We wanted to thank the community for supporting us by doing these clinical trials with them.

“We started doing it in February last year, and we have been rotating and going to different places according to the needs. In April, we are going to Reiger Park and after that Katlehong,” Stoffel said.

People of all ages were invited to be part of the clinical trial.

Stoffel said the reason why they came up with the idea last year is that in most cases people are sick, but they are not aware of it.

“Some have high blood pressure, but they do not know it because they can’t go to clinics to get screened because there are long queues there and sometimes there are no medication. At the same time they can’t afford to consult doctors because of their expensive fees,” explained Stoffel.

She added that they are making life easier for the community by enabling them to get a high level of treatment for free not too far away from where they live.

According to Vuyiswa Maoeni, who accompanied her grandmother, Beauty Maoeni (65), to the clinical trial, the initiative by the five doctors is a very beautiful thing, especially for elderly people who have no medical aid, like her grandmother.

Maoeni added that her grandmother is epileptic and is taking Degranol.

“What worries us as a family is that the clinic hasn’t had a supply of the drug since the middle of last year. Since then we have been collecting the medication from one of the clinics in Daveyton. This was financially a problem as we have to travel from Vosloorus every month just to collect the medication in Daveyton. What is more frustrating is that they are refusing to make us referral letters to go and get the drug from the nearest hospital.

Degranol is the only drug that can sustain her.

“If she does not take Degranol she faints every now and then. Because of this, I had to resign from work and focus on looking after her,” said Maoeni.

Maoeni’s story confirms what Stoffel said when she was talking about the needs of these clinical trials in the communities.

About the unavailability of Degranol at the clinic, Philani Mhlungu, Department of Health spokesperson, said there were challenges regarding the supply of Degranol medication at the time; however, the department has never completely run out of stock.

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“We have been in touch with the patient’s husband with the aim of resolving this challenge. He has committed to inform her and was given the name of the facility manager in order to get her medication,” said Mhlungu.

The next wellness day will take place in Reiger Park on April 4.

For more information about the dates of the next event and venues contact Mamssy Liver on 079 628 5677.

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