Kempton Park SAPS hosts free health screening for officers and public

The Department of Health, in partnership with Arwyp Medical Centre, visited Kempton Park SAPS on May 27 to provide free health screenings for police officers and members of the public, in a bid to promote well-being, early detection and health awareness.

It also offered accessible health services directly at their workplace.

A range of screenings and services were offered, including blood pressure and blood sugar testing, prostate cancer screening, HIV testing, pap smears, PrEP HIV prevention information and body mass index (BMI) assessments.

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Kempton Park SAPS Social Crime Prevention coordinator Sergeant Constance Ramawela said regular health monitoring is essential for officers to remain operationally ready and to cope with the demands of policing.

“Some of the key health concerns identified during the screenings were high blood pressure, high blood sugar and mental health challenges due to the high-stress, dangerous and traumatic nature of police work,” said Ramawela.

She added that approximately 50 members participated in the programme.

Ramawela said responses to wellness initiatives among SAPS members have been mixed, ranging from strong participation to hesitation, but added that bringing services directly to the workplace removes barriers such as long queues and limited access to clinics.

She said the partnership between SAPS and the Department of Health allows members to access essential screenings at a convenient time and location, encouraging more consistent participation in preventative healthcare.

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“Health and wellness of police officers directly determine the quality, speed and safety of community policing.

“When SAPS members are physically and psychologically healthy, response times improve, community trust grows and crime is addressed more efficiently,” she said.

SAPS members and stakeholders who took part in the programme welcomed the initiative, highlighting its importance in supporting both physical and mental health.

Sergeant Khomotjo Mohlape said the programme encouraged officers to take their health seriously and make use of preventative services.

“I believe everyone must take their health seriously so that they know what is happening with their body, especially now, when people are experiencing a lot of medical problems,” said Mohlape.

“Police officers in particular deal with many traumatic incidents, so we need to take care of our health.”

POWA social auxiliary worker Nontsikelelo Gulubela also welcomed the initiative, saying it removed barriers to accessing healthcare.

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“We don’t have to go to clinics where there are long queues, and it’s a good initiative for people to know their status,” she said.

“We need to know our blood pressure, sugar levels and cholesterol because we don’t always know what is good for our health. I wish this could be an ongoing initiative.”

SAPS said it has ongoing plans to strengthen wellness support for members through structured health, fitness and screening programmes, with a continued focus on prevention and early intervention.