Mobile centre to ensure healthy community
“This mobile centre is an important step in this direction for Kempton Park. It will champion as a success story for other communities to shape up in an innovative manner to ensure proper healthcare for residents.”
A mobile health centre was launched on September 15, led by the AfriForum Kempton Park branch. The Kempton branch chairperson, Jan Vermaak, said the idea started as an attempt to provide basic health services to the needy and elderly citizens in the community.
“Our nurses will start at old age homes to measure blood pressure, conduct cholesterol tests and monitor blood glucose levels. They’ll also offer references to relevant doctors as part of a wider health care network. As time and resources will grow, more services will be provided. Our aim is to act on preventative actions towards diseases and health complications that might turn costly in the long-term,” Vermaak explained.
According to Dr Eugene Brink, AfriForum’s strategic advisor for community affairs, the project was in response to Covid-19.
“We realised that the state’s services are insufficient to deal with people’s health issues and needs. On the other hand, the private medical sector is far better equipped, but still unaffordable for most people,” Brink said.
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“This mobile centre is an important step in this direction for Kempton Park. It will champion as a success story for other communities to shape up in an innovative manner to ensure proper healthcare for residents.”
Stefanus Blignaut, AfriForum’s district coordinator for the East Rand, said the centre is a mobile and convenient mode to serve the community.
“It’s also a sustainable project. With the help of volunteers, the branch, community and other role-players, the project will ensure a positive change in the lives of the community.”
Volunteers include retired nurses and working pharmacists who are all rich in experience and knowledge on basic health care services.
Brink added that in the use of the clinic a holistic approach will be engaged in looking after people’s health.
“Covid-19 is not the only pandemic of our time. There is a considerable link between one’s emotional well-being and physical health, which makes the prevention of any illness a far better approach than to heal damage already caused.
“For this reason we want to be an ear that listens, as well as being speakers that want to encourage and build.”
Brink urged all role players and medical experts in Kempton Park to form part of this new initiative.
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