A partnership between government and non-governmental organisations are putting men’s health and wellness in the spotlight.
With the launch of MINA on Thursday 18 April, at the Mitchells Plain Community Health Centre, clinic staff focused on providing critical services to the most vulnerable residents of the area.
This coincides with the launch of the wash bus project, with services provided by Viva Con Agua’s mobile showers and toilet facilities, called Nina Manzi.
Launched in July 2022, Nina Manzi is a roving sanitation facility offering a safe and private place to clean themselves.
By last year, more than 2 700 hot showers had been provided to homeless residents.
“We partner with other organisations,” project manager Evert van Noordwyk said to TygerBurger previously.
“We aim to partner with other NPOs that also provide a service.
“We see ourselves as a bolt-on. We benefit the organisation, but also provide a great service in return.”
The MINA campaign which forms part of department contracted partner, Anova Health’s Health4Men (H4M) project is targeted at social behaviour change among men to help them take ownership of their health and utilise HIV services and positive living with HIV.
Lebogang Makokoana, project coordinator at Anova Health says: “Collaborating and launching the H4M Men’s Health service at Mitchells Plain day hospital will help us offer important services to cater for our men in Mitchells Plain. We encourage all men to come for their prostate checkup, TB screening and testing, HIV screening and testing, sexually transmitted infections screening and treatment, mental health counselling and support.”
Testing
On Thursday, various testing and health options were available for residents.
The local neighbourhood watch also partnered with the department and organisations to encourage the large homeless population in Town Centre to access the services on their doorsteps.
“The Mina project aims to improve access to healthcare services for our men in our community, and therefore, we have partnered with Anova to support us in providing HIV testing, and TB testing. We want to encourage men to take ownership of their health,” says Rene Daniels, social worker at Mitchells Plain CHC.
Tyrone Kayster (33) who has been living on the streets for the last 10 years was one of the residents who made use of the service.
“Having access to the wash bus at the day hospital is a great help because it is difficult getting access to water on the streets. People are not so keen to give me water when I ask so I can wash myself. I have health issues and I always come for my appointment and I suffer from asthma. A warm shower and clean clothes are appreciated. People won’t understand what this service means to someone like me who is living on the streets,” he says.
Free of charge service
While the two projects are independent, they have been integrated and will be offered free of charge to the community.
Daniels says they will bring the wash bus project to the
“Every body has the right to water and sanitation and the department of health that I work for represents the constitutional right to health. It was perfect to bring it together,” she says.
Their location and proximity to the homeless persons living primarily in the Town Centre means they are able to provide the showers and medical service to these residents at an expedited rate.
“This is a fit partnership because most of the time we get the homeless people at the facility, they are either dying, or patients are complaining they don’t smell well, or they staff also discriminate against them.
“On the same premises, we have the services the homeless people need. There is no long waiting and there are no folders, it is a quick in and out while still keeping their rights intact in a safe environment,” she says.
She thanked the neighbourhood watch for their assistance, speaking to the whole of society approach.
Clothing and a meal was also provided to the 30 homeless residents who accessed the service on Thursday.
This service will be offered every second Thursday at the facility.
There is a call on residents to donate pre-loved clothing, especially men’s clothing. It can be dropped at the facility when requesting to speak with Daniels.
