Health workers volunteer for health

Home / Health / Health workers volunteer for health

Rotary hopes to extend the screening event to other African countries. Similar events have already taken place in Ghana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Uganda.

Civil society, business and government departments teamed up at a community hall to in Khuma outside Klerksdorp to promote healthy living and disease prevention – with the help of some caring health care workers.

The three-day event included HIV testing and counselling and testing, blood pressure and tuberculosis screening, deworming and the provision of vitamins. Screening and testing were done by volunteer health workers.

According to Klerksdorp Rotary Club Public Relations Officer Charmaine Rider, the event is just the beginning of an Africa-wide health push for the Rotary organisation. With similar events taking place in Uganda, Lesotho and Swaziland, the Rotary Club hopes to expand the initiative to new African countries each year.

Khuma community member Thandiwe Gumede took part in the campaign and told OurHealth that it was an important opportunity to bring health screening to communities who may live far from the nearest clinic.