Community health worker Thozama Gudwana has assured the people of the area that the facility will work with them to fight different diseases especially tuberculosis.
Image: Phiri Cawe
The Gugulethu Community Health Centre took services to the people of informal settlements.
Image: Phiri Cawe
Gugulethu Community Health Centre has urged patients diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) to take their medication and help save lives in the areas where they live.
To commemorate Tuberculosis Awareness Month, the clinic visited Barcelona informal settlement on Thursday March 20 as the area is considered a TB hotspot.
Community health worker Thozama Gudwana said TB remains the biggest challenge for the KTC clinic and they chose Barcelona for the campaign to take services and advice closer to the community largely affected.
“This is the area where we have found a lot of people with TB. We know that people are either scared to visit health facilities or reluctant to go. It is their chance to receive help today because we are also testing not only for TB but also other diseases like HIV/Aids, diabetes and many others.”
Ms Gudwana said the clinic would continue to host these impactful outreach and health promotion programmes, hoping to decrease the spread of TB. She said people should know that TB is preventable and curable and the disease can be stopped if everyone plays their part.
“We urge people to visit our facility for a check-up, but we do have a dedicated team that goes around to bring awareness to people. Clinics are a place to go and get help. It is about time that people should know that the stigma is long gone. Let us fight TB and we promise to walk the journey with our people. We are truly dedicated to fight this scourge with them,” she said.
Community member Zoliswa Sukude commended the health centre for bringing the services to the people. She said for people in Barcelona and other areas, the clinic is too far away. “This is good for people who mostly are not working. I am glad they have decided to come to us for all these services. Remember to go there you have to spend a lot on transport and yet most of us are not working. Now I had a chance to test for different diseases, something that I would not have done should they decide to stay in the office. May they continue with these roadshows to help people,” she said.
More praise came from Ziyanda Mapha who said he was a TB survivor. Mr Mapha urged people to check their health status. He said when he was diagnosed with TB he had thought he was healthy but he was wrong. “Sometimes you see yourself as healthy not knowing that there are things happening with your body. It is advisable that we always go to the health centre to check our health status. TB caught me off guard and I could not believe it when I was told that I have it. I am happy I followed the treatment and now I am healthy again,” he said.