CJM hospital take their services to the people of Mbofana

Charles Johnson Memorial (CJM) Hospital at Nquthu embarked on an Operation Mbo Campaign (taking services to the people) at Mpofana area under Nquthu Municipality Ward 1.
This took place on April 4 at Manxili Community Hall. The campaign was implemented through Intersectoral collaboration using Operation Sukuma Sakhe approach. The profiling of the area started in 2018 when the Hospital Ward Based Team (WBOT) identified 21 families who were destitute. Research showed that there is an increase in the number of unemployed people in the area who are poverty stricken.

“We found out that there was a family of nine staying in a one-roomed house and that there are families in the community that don’t have identity documents nor birth certificates for their children, which means that these kids are not getting the government social grant. It is for these reasons that the hospital management and staff started a campaign to donate clothes and groceries to give to these families. The idea was well welcomed by other Government Departments, Nquthu Local Municipality, Mandleni Traditional Council and the Local Councillor,” said Sthabiso Ngwenya, the Public Relations Officer at CJM Hospital.

The event attracted 257 community members. 21 families received groceries, blankets, and clothes from the Department of Health, eight other families received groceries from the Department of Social Development. The recipients of food parcels also received seeds from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to plant in their gardens.

The Department of Home Affairs assisted 58 families with Identity Documents and birth certificates.
The success of this event was through the support of the following Departments who were given slots to educate, inform and to advice community members as per their functions:  Nquthu Local Municipality, Mandleni Traditional Council, Councillor Zanele Sithole, SASSA, Department of Education, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Department of Social Development, Community Safety and Liaison, Nquthu SAPS, Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs, Department of Correctional Services, Umzinyathi Health District.
“During this event, department services were provided, screenings were done, and the elderly received optical glasses and walking aids. Some community members received seeds with the hope that people will establish gardens,” concluded Sthabiso.