The chief from Mbozisa locality in Mqanduli, Chief Zwelanele Dengwane, confirmed that the high rate of people who are defaulting in taking their medication will now decrease, due to the community outreach that was hosted by the Department of Health in that area, last week.
He said that his area was facing a lot of challenges, because some of the community members were defaulting as it was not easy for them to fetch medication from the local clinic.
“Some of them are travelling long distances, because we do not have clinics that are nearby. This is one of the major problems, because they end up stopping from going to clinics,” said Dengwane.
He added that they were happy when the Department of Health chose their area to bring different departments to assist his people. Dengwane added that besides the health condition of the people, another concern is that the Mbozisa River does not have a bridge. He said that it was swept away by heavy floods in 2002.
“This also makes our lives difficult, because we are unable to go to other areas if it is raining. Our children do not go to school because there is no bridge. We have tried several times to ask for help, but until now nothing is happening.”
An enrolled nurse from KSD sub-district in Mthatha, Nhlanhla Tetyana, said that they were conducting a Thuma Mina Outreach Programme that was suggested by President Cyril Ramaposa, that the government institutions should go to the people.
“We are going to the deep rural areas where it is hard for community members to get our services. In these areas it is where we find people who are defaulting, and some of the children do not receive vaccinations. Some do not have clinic cards, so it is not easy to get services from South African Social Services Agency (SASSA),” said Tetyana.
He said they work with Great Places and other stakeholders to bring these services to community members.
