Villagers’ treacherous journey for healthcare

Women wear the brunt o inequality. (Zizo Zikali/Health-e/File)

Residents who cannot afford transport have to walk through the thick forest where a large number of violent crimes occur.

This, said resident Noluvo Mhlanga, is why most villagers, especially the elderly, have deserted accessing health services.

“The forest separating our village and the town has become a hub for criminals and we are scared to walk through it,” she said, adding that because of the dangerous journey her mother doesn’t comply with her medication.

“We have asked our community leadership to intervene and engage relevant departments to come to our rescue,” Mhlanga said.

Service point

The community’s pleas have been heard and during the Department of Health’s Check Impilo campaign KwaMhlanga was identified as a service point. Nonyameko Tibe, the community- based service manager at the Department of Health, said monthly health services will be provided at the service point.

“According to the information provided by the clinics, the area of KwaMhlanga has a high prevalence of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, HIV and Aids and tuberculosis. A church hall has been allocated to provide health services each month,” said Tibe.

“We will ensure that the people of KwaMhlanga and surrounding areas will have access to primary healthcare services,” she said. – Health-e News

Author

  • Zizo Zikali

    Zizo Zikali is our Eastern Cape based citizen journalist who also heads news at Inkonjane Community Radio in Flagstaff. Under her leadership, the news team is receiving recognition from local government and is the defending champion for Alfred Nzo District Municipality Annual Award for Best Innovative Current Affairs Programme. Zizo has over six years experience in community media and worked for organisations such as Voice of Tembisa FM from 2011-2014 and Inkonjane community Radio since 2014. Her educational qualifications include an Advanced Radio Certificate from University of the Witwatersrand obtained in 2016 and a Human Resources Management qualification from the Durban University of Technology obtained in 2008.

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