The Western Cape Department of Health is calling on members of the community to volunteer. By volunteering in the health-care field one can work with health-care workers to improve services and well-being.
The department has established several clinic committees and hospital boards to create a platform for community members to volunteer.
As a member of a clinic committee or hospital board, you can:
. Request feedback on what is being done to improve the quality of service at the facility
. Voice your community’s health-care needs, concerns and complaints
. Make recommendations or give feedback on service delivery gaps you identify
. Support the facility by activities to benefit the facility, eg fundraising
. Mobilise the community to support wellness initiatives
. Participate in meetings and consultations
One such example is the Nduli Clinic committee in the Witzenberg. Because of the valuable link the clinic committee creates between communities and clinics, health professionals identified a need for information to be shared on the dangers of substance abuse.
The committee initiated an event that gathered departments such as Health, Police, Education, Correctional Services and religious leaders, addressing young people on how substance abuse can impact their health, their ability to finish school and whether or not they spend their lives in and out of prison.
Chairperson of the committee Eric Ndwanya says he loves working for the community and being on the committee gives him the chance to make a difference through events like these, where different role-players work together for healthier communities. “I’d love every community to have a committee/board like this!”
In the Cape Winelands District there are 30 active clinic committees/hospital boards. The Department would like to further increase its engagement with communities and asks that especially people living in Montagu, McGregor, Bonnievale, Gouda and Rawsonville volunteer for service on their healthcare facilities’ committee/board.
Residents in this or other areas of the Breede Valley, Drakentein, Langeberg, Stellenbosch or Witzenberg who would like to volunteer can contact the facility for more info.
