Health campaign held in north of Pretoria
“This war and pandemic are far from over. I appeal to all once again, please wash your hands, sanitize and wear your masks.”
A health campaign was held in Suurman, Hammanskraal on Thursday.
The Pink Drive campaign was led by deputy minister of social development Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu along with the Pink Drive and the Rand Water Foundation.
The Pink Drive is a non-profit company (NPC) which delivers health-related education and cancer screening services, care and support by reaching out to schools, clinics, hospitals and communities.
The department said the campaign was aimed at creating awareness and to provide education and health-related services to community members.
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The Pink Drive campaign forms part of the women’s month programme which takes place each year, during the month of August.
“The purpose of the day is to commemorate women’s month, under the banner: A Healthy Life.
“We are here to encourage women to take care of themselves, mentally and physically. This is our first integrated outreach since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Bogopane-Zulu.
She said one of the things the department was responsible for, was the prevention of social crimes, drug and alcohol abuse and women dying from HIV/Aids.
The campaign was filled with a basket of services rendered to residents such as free education on women’s health, free pap smears for cervical cancer and free clinical self-breast examinations, mammograms and PSA screening for men over the age of 40.
Community members also had an opportunity to be tested for Covid-19.
“The department of social development is committed to strengthening families, empowering women and educating both men and women about cancer. This, in return, should help to prevent the spread of cancer and afford South Africans a chance to lead a healthy family life,” Bogopane-Zulu said.
The Pink Drive said it had for more than 10 years, made the health of vulnerable South Africans their priority.
“While our historical role has been cancer detection, and as everyone knows by now, overnight we broadened our mission and partnered with national department of health, Gauteng department of health and the KZN health department to bring Covid-19 testing and screening to targeted hotspots.”
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The Pink Drive said it also provided additional vehicles and employed additional medical staff who were all previously unemployed to assist with the call for the roll-out of mass testing.
“So far we have tested 14 000 people for the Covid-19. We have also employed 20 nurses who were previously unemployed.
“Today, we were back where we love being, in the heart of Suurman community in Hammanskraal.”
Pink Drive said on the day the community members practised social distancing while receiving washable masks.
“Education on the importance of wearing masks and signs of symptoms of Covid-19 was also provided.”
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