Health services brought to ‘marginalised’ north community

A health programme aimed at bringing medical services closer to disadvantaged areas was the order of the day in Marikana Informal settlement, north of Pretoria recently.

Gauteng health department said the programme was under the provincial government’s Township, Informal Settlement, Hostels (TISH) programme which ensured that marginalised communities in Hammanskraal were at the fore of receiving health services on May 28.

According to the Gauteng health department, through the TISH programme, communities were given access to HIV and TB testing, Vitamin A and deworming, immunisation, family planning, adherence support (chronic treatment) and oral health services. They also could go for a pap smear and prostate-specific agent (PSA) to examine any signs of cervical or prostate cancer.

The following is a breakdown of the number of patients who were treated during the Hammanskraal service programme:

– Primary Healthcare Services: 35
– Chronic: 61
– Rehab (4 wheelchairs and 1 walking issued): 5
– Immunisation (Deworming and vitamin A immunisation): 38
– Nutrition: 3
– Maternal child and women’s health: 31
– HAST (HIV/Aids testing 44, TB screening 158): 202
– Ophthalmology: 35
– Flu vaccine: 140

Spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said the TISH programme was held in an open space, with many arriving from all angles of the area.

He said the department noticed a need for mobile services in that area as the community must travel approximately 17km to New Eersterus Clinic.

“This is a continuous programme, hence other sub-districts or areas will benefit from it and the department wants to improve PHC (primary healthcare) utilisation rate and immunisation coverage, and encourage pregnant women to attend antenatal care clinic with it.”

In addition, the department wants the community to utilise the Centralised Chronic Medication Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) programme. Also known as Dablap Meds, it allows individuals who are on chronic medication to collect their medicines at a pick-up point closer to home or work.

Modiba said a patient must meet the following criteria to be registered on the CCMDD/Dablap Meds system:

– Be stable, on chronic medicines for 12 months (6 months in some instances during the Covid-19 pandemic, at the discretion of the prescriber).

– When a patient’s medical condition does not require regular clinical review by a clinician or regular visits to a health facility.

– Medication available on the provincial CCMDD formulary (formulary is based on the Standard Treatment guidelines and the essential medicines list).

“Anyone taking chronic medication can request the hospital or clinic where they are currently getting their medication to register them on the CCMDD/Dablap programme, so they can take a shortcut to collect their prescription or chronic medication,” said Modiba.

Those who are not able to collect their medication themselves can register someone else to collect it on their behalf. When the medication is delivered, patients receive an SMS, notifying them that medicine is now available at the pick-up point.”

For more information, patients can visit www.health.gov.za/ccmdd, call the Toll-Free number at 0800 214 761 or send a Please Call Me to 20948.

He said the TISH programme aims to ensure that citizens in disadvantaged areas are not left out when it comes to access to services.

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