Making health a priority

The fifth annual Rotary Family Health Day’s event will take place from October 3 to 5 with the aim of bringing free health services to 100 000 people.

Rotary Family Health Days offer free health services and vital screenings to deprived communities.

These include HIV counselling and testing, screening for TB, diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, Vitamin A supplementation and immunisations.

Zimbali and Ballito Rotary clubs are set to service the Ilembe district, after consultation with the various health departments to confirm the clinic sites. North Coast Family Health Days convener and Ballito Rotary club secretary Richard Brooks said last year the event was held at the Nkobongo Community Hall near Shakaskraal.

The family health project was started and managed by Rotarians for Family Health and AIDS Prevention (RFHA) in partnership with the National Department of Health and Rotary clubs in South Africa.

Among several other partners, the Gift of the Givers Foundation and the University of Johannesburg will be joining the project.

This year, the health department’s focus is the ‘She Conquers’ campaign, focus on reaching girls and young women. About 2 500 young women and girls between 12 and 24 are infected with HIV each week in South Africa.

When the programme started in 2011, 38 000 people were treated in two countries. Last year, just under half a million people received free health care at Rotary Family Health Days in Ghana, India, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda. The aim is to see these numbers grow significantly in years to come.

The help of volunteers who give up their time to make a difference to the success of the health days is indespensible. Rotary Family Health Days need help at each of the planned 120 sites across the country.

For more information visit rfhdsouthafrica.org or contact your nearest Rotary club. Zimbali Rotary: 082 654 6262 or Ballito Rotary: 073 210 1235 or the NDOH helpline: 0800 012 322.

>>  Expect to find the latest trends in Health, Wellness and Beauty in Ballito.

>> Meet the top players in the North Coast property industry. See our Property People feature.

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