New campaign to drawback ‘lost patients’ launches in Alex

The City of Johannesburg’s Department of Health in Region E has partnered with Anova Health Institute to launch a Welcome Back Campaign.

The campaign’s aim is to ‘welcome back’ all patients who had disengaged from taking their chronic illness medication.

The launch of the campaign took place on 21 May at a sports ground opposite Thoko Mngoma Clinic and is set to make 2021 the year of good health.

Anova Health Institute is an NGO that empowers people and endeavours to change lives and is recognised for its innovative responses through leadership and research in HIV.

Region E health director Vusi Mazibuko said they wanted people to come back for their treatment, not only those living with HIV and Aids only, but also those with chronic conditions.

“Many people have stopped taking treatment, some stopped because of the corona pandemic thinking if they go to their nearest facilities to collect their treatment medications, they may end up being infected with Covid-19.

“So we are saying to them come back to treatment and live a ‘treatment life’ without the worry of being infected by other diseases,” Mazibuko added.

Diana Mokoena of Anova Health Institute said the institute would work hand in hand with the clinics.

“We work with the clinics to check if anyone has missed their appointments or if they did not collect their treatment medication, then from there we go out with the community healthcare workers to check what was the reason for them not to show up,” Mokoena added.

In conclusion, she said patients would not be asked why they discontinued with their treatment, so that those who wished to continue would not feel that they were being judged.