Health promotion for taxi commuters and customers
The community of Mamelodi is encouraged to start visiting their local health facilities for health screenings and to learn their HIV status.
An organisation looking after people living with chronic diseases has partnered with the Mamelodi Amalgamated Taxi Association (Mata) to promote health and wellness.
The Ditlalemeso Foundation partnered with the association to distribute hundreds of pamphlets with information on different chronic diseases and 30 boxes of condoms for men and women on Friday.
Bennit Maponya from the foundation said, “we have partnered with the taxi association and Tshwane Regional Mall to reach out to its customers and taxi commuters”.
Maponya said the aim of the health promotion programme was to encourage people to take care of their health and know their HIV status.
“The pamphlets we handed out to passengers and customers were to educate the public about different chronic diseases, how to take care of themselves and where to get help,” said Maponya.
He said the condoms were placed in the rest rooms at the mall for people to take.
The health promotion is an ongoing programme.
“We will be visiting other shopping malls and we will doing health screening and HIV/Aids test for free.
“We want to encourage the community members to know their status as soon as possible,” he said.
Maponya added that the foundation has realised that many people are scared of visiting health facilities.
“The health promotion programme at the malls and taxi ranks brings health services to the locals as well as teaching the public how to take care of themselves too.”
Ditlalemeso Organisation is a community socio-economic development organisation formed by three people who want to uplift the community of Mamelodi with skills development for the unemployed.
They also aim to keep children busy and away from the streets by introducing them to different activities, including sports.
The organisation provides nutritious vegetable soup with bread to keep people warm and fill up their stomachs while standing in long lines before taking their medication.
The soup kitchen is run by five volunteers on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
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