Sanitation prioritised in Kagiso

The Gauteng Department of Health recently hosted an awareness event in the Zenzele Informal Settlement in commemoration of World Toilet Day, which is a global initiative aimed at raising awareness about the importance of sanitation.

The event was attended by the MEC for Health, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, the chief director of the West Rand District Health Services, Thembokuhle Karigani and Kagiso councillor Una Rosslyn Dickson.

Accompanied by the local ward councillor Daniel Machaba, the big-name officials toured various stalls to assess the services offered and identify areas for improvement.

According to Nkomo-Ralehoko, residents were educated about a range of health services provided during the event, including blood pressure and diabetes screenings, HIV testing and basic primary healthcare through a mobile clinic.

The Environmental Health team also raised awareness about the importance of sanitation and conducted demonstrations on proper handwashing techniques, water conservation, malaria prevention, and food and pesticide safety.

Nkomo-Ralehoko and her team then engaged directly with residents, discussing challenges such as poverty, limited access to healthcare and other administrative barriers. She also highlighted the department’s efforts to ensure that residents in the area can access quality healthcare services despite living in an informal settlement.

A visit to a local preschool highlighted the installation of a water-saving toilet, a significant step towards improving sanitation in the area.

Further, the MEC also conducted a practical demonstration on proper toilet cleaning and maintaining good hygiene, emphasising the role of clean sanitation facilities in preventing diseases.

In her address to the community, the MEC announced plans to introduce a satellite clinic to the Zenzele settlement. This initiative aims to improve access to healthcare and address the residents’ most pressing concerns.