Kwa-Thema – The Gauteng Department of Health and MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko visited the Selope Thema Clinic in Kwa-Thema on Tuesday to raise awareness on the 16 Days Of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign.
The event focused on reassuring solidarity with victims affected by GBV, as well as driving activism against GBV in homes, communities and workplaces.
The event started with a few speeches, candle lighting a prayer session and ended with aerobics.
“I extend an appreciation to the stakeholders – for the work they do in fighting the GBV pandemic, which takes away women’s dignity. NGOs are assisting a lot and work with us closely in dealing with issues.
“Women are killed mostly in November. The worst incidents happen during the month,” said Nkomo-Ralehoko.
Nkomo-Ralehoko said NGOs have been at the forefront of protecting women’s rights by exposing violence against women.
They are also promoting the needs of a girl child and developing a comprehensive, holistic and rights-based approach to rendering services to women.
“Thank you for playing your part in fighting GBV. We have lost a lot of women and children and there was a time in 2019 whereby one would hear daily of a child being beaten up or killed and found in the veld.
“We want everyone to help us fight the scourge,” said Nkomo-Ralehoko.
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Nkomo-Ralehoko said the department of health cannot keep quiet anymore and let the department of safety alone be dealing with GBV, as doctors and nurses are the ones who deal with GBV victims daily.
Nkomo-Ralehoko said, “Selope Thema is doing well as far as the health department is concerned. However, I am not happy with the state of the yard.
“The management has to make sure the yard is maintained. Some patients get sicker as they lose hope in getting better by seeing such a yard.”
Nkomo-Ralehoko said if private clinics and hospitals can be clean, there is nothing which can stop public facilities from being clean as well.
“The clinic is in the community and it was the best place to host our GBV programme. We are grateful to the planners of this programme and also those of you who managed to attend.
“We also encourage those in health teams to go into communities so that our programmes reach the people,” said Nkomo-Ralehoko.
Nkomo-Ralehoko also encouraged people to go for their second boosters and said having after-effects is a myth.
Different pastors had an interfaith prayer during the programme. They prayed for GBV, communities, health facilities and the leaders of the country.
Ward 77 Clr Thulani Dunjane during his welcoming address, said, “Ward 77 isn’t immune to GBV, as a few weeks ago a woman in the ward was brutally murdered by her partner.
“As a ward, we will work closely with the department and other stakeholders to fight this GBV pandemic.”
Kwa-Thema Victim Empowerment Centre GBV ambassador Nomakhuwa Nkambule said the programme was successful. There were stalls set up for testing and vaccination outside the hall.
