VIDEO: Helping hand in CBD for migrants and refugees
Through the strengthened healthcare service and the new drop-in centre, the Tshwane Migrant Project aimes to become a welcoming space for restoring clients’ health and dignity.
Sediba Hope Medical Centre along with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) (MSF) and other stakeholders have launched a partnership to help migrants and refugees in the CBD.
The Tshwane Migrant Project was launched on Friday last week.
It will provide a supportive hub focusing on undocumented migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in the greater Tshwane area who often do not have access to health care and social services.
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Sediba Hope CEO Vanessa Hechter said the project was launched because bureaucracy often denied such people access to mental and primary health care.
“We have a lot of people coming from war-torn countries who have suffered trauma and stress,” she said.
She said through the partnership with MSF, the clinic would now boast more expertise to help such people.
“Finding someone like MSF to work alongside us has been very welcome.”
“We respect MSF’s values to provide assistance to populations in distress, without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, creed or political affiliation. Such values are in line with our values,” said Hechter.
MSF’s Southern Africa migration co-ordinator Liesbeth Schockaert said Tshwane had become a focal point for asylum seekers and refugees in the country, who visited the Tshwane refugee reception centre to renew their applications.
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“Most face huge administrative barriers to claim asylum, with little information provided and little access to free legal support,” said Schockaert.
She said many travelled great distances to Tshwane; however, once they are here, they had nowhere to stay, with many forced to sleep on pavements and parks, awaiting appointments.
She said although the Constitution defended the rights of all who seek refuge in the country, many faced huge barriers to access services through the public health system.
Schockaert said the newly established hub would offer free and confidential primary and mental health care services and referrals for secondary or specialised care.
“Additionally, the hub will provide social and legal orientation services to assist clients to better understand their rights and what services are available from other local supporting partners.”
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Schockaert said the hub would run during weekdays, providing safe space for asylum seekers and migrants to use free amenities to improve their well-being, including free Wi-Fi and computers, showers, lockers and cellphone chargers.
“We support their efforts by providing medical services for their clients at our clinics,” said community and social development MMC Sakkie du Plooy.
He described Sediba Hope as a state-of-the-art clinic in the CBD and main service provider.
“We treat migrants, like the broader community, at our clinics in suburbs and townships.”
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