Free health screening for women
NORWOOD – A mobile clinic has been organised to administer the screenings of various opportunistic diseases.
Women in the Johannesburg north-eastern suburbs are invited to a Women’s Month health drive to be held at the Norwood Park on 18 August.
The health drive is organised by local women and they have invited Johannesburg health MMC, Dr Mpho Phalatse to endorse the event.
According to the organisers, all women interested to check their health status are welcome to attend.
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Sharon Mtshali, an organiser, said the reason for this initiative is because of the lack of community health facilities in their area to enable people much-needed services.
Currently, the R40-million state-of-the-art health centre, Orchards Clinic along Louis Botha Avenue, is still under construction and people have to travel long distances to access necessary services.
Many of the people have to travel to the Alexandra, Hillbrow or Yeoville clinics and Mtshali said for some it is expensive for them to travel that far. “So, we thought of celebrating our women in the community by having a health screening for some common illnesses affecting them in particular – and everyone is welcome.
“We will have a free screening and we will be graced by the presence of MMC for Department of Health and Social Development, Dr Mpho Phalatse.”
Women will have an opportunity to screen their blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, TB and HIV/Aids and Mtshali said there will be a talk also about cervical and ovarian cancer.
Ward 73 councillor Eleanor Huggett, has confirmed that they are expecting Phalatse to attend as per the request from the community.
Huggett said the organisers of the health drive invited the MMC themselves and she was notified that she will be attending.
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She said there will also be a mobile clinic to administer the tests and urged people, especially women, to take advantage of the services. “This is really important since the Orchards Clinic is not yet working and many of our people have to travel long distances to access health services – this is really a good opportunity.
“We would also like to have a mobile clinic operating daily in the area until Orchards Clinic is readily available to offer services.”
Details: Eleanor Huggett 071 785 8068.
