Knights-Pendragon to participate in family health days
Her efforts and worldwide support through Rotary have ensured that her son did not die in vain.
An American Rotary mother who lost her son to Aids, and who was determined to turn her grief into a positive force for change, established the Rotary Family Health Days in 2004.
Her efforts and worldwide support through Rotary have ensured that her son did not die in vain.
Rotary Family Health Days will be held across 110 sites in South Africa over three days from Wednesday, October 12 to Friday October 14.
In a combined project, the Rotary Club of Knights-Pendragon are joining with the Rotary Club of Bedfordview and teaming up with the National Department of Health at a site at the Wannenburg Clinic, Primrose.
While this venue is immediately adjacent to four informal settlements, communities further afield will be within reach.
Two other local Rotary Clubs, Edenvale and Johannesburg East, will be manning sites at the Manche Masemola Church in Lombardy East.
They form part of the international Rotary Family Health Days (RFHD) that have been held annually in South Africa since 2013.
Rotary acts as the convener and managing partner of the event which has become part of the National Department of Health’s annual programme of activities.
The event is a major public-private partnership that offers access to free health screenings and immunisations to vulnerable communities across the country and this year the aim is to reach 100 000 people.
Free services offered include TB screening, HIV screening and counselling, high blood pressure testing and diabetes screening. Immunisations and educational material for Hepatitis B and C will be available at a number of sites.
The National Department of Health provides logistics and medical personnel, with support from Rotary volunteers.
Sponsorship for RFHD 2016 is provided by Gilead, the California-based biopharmaceutical company and media awareness of the campaign is by Caxton, Independent Newspapers, Media24 and SABC.
Volunteers who would like to get involved with Rotary Family Health Days can go to rfha.org.za and click on “How to volunteer” and Rotary will make contact.
Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self”.
For more information, contact Andy Stevenson on 082 389 0256.
Also read: Family health days need volunteers
Sites announced for Rotary Family Health Days
