The fourth annual Rotary Family Health Days programme was recently held around South Africa by Rotary Clubs, in partnership with the Department of Health.
The Edenvale Rotary Club set up their site at the Manche Masemola Anglican Church on the border of Lombardy East, overlooking the River Park community.
Sites announced for Rotary Health Days
The Alexandra East Bank Clinic provided support with blood pressure and sugar diabetes testing, TB screening, as well as general health check-ups. They also administered measles vaccines and polio drops to little ones who were behind on their schedule.
Ms Linda Clarke, the secretary of the Edenvale Rotary Club, said all the children at the event were given Vitamin A to boost their immune systems.
“Besides the hand out of condoms by the Department of Health and Working Knowledge International, the Edenvale Rotary Club provided mothers with Dehydration Spoons. These spoons are used to measure the exact amounts of sugar and salt in one cup of water in order to avoid dehydration, which is the major cause of many deaths in babies and young children,” said Ms Clarke.
Rotarians promote family health
Life Line, Alexandra, provided HIV testing and pre- and post-counselling. Working Knowledge international partnered with the club to provide eye and hearing tests, as well as bringing along Drug Wise to educate the public about drug abuse and offering drug counselling.
“A total of 462 people attended, with 940 services being carried out over the three-day event and where necessary, 59 patients were referred for further treatment/investigation,” said Ms Clarke.
“The Edenvale Rotary Club would also like to thank the Manche Masemola Anglican Parish who provided logistical support to the club, as well as the sponsors of the Rotary Family Health Days country wide, namely Phila, RFHA, SABC Foundation, Caxton Newspapers, YFM, Media 24, Se?ego Cares, Paprika Graphics & Communication, Gilead, PEPFAR and Cape Communications Newspapers,” she said.
For more information on what Rotary does in the Edenvale community, contact Ms Linda Clarke on 082 929 5142. They meet on Mondays at 6:30pm at Mongo’s Portuguese and Mozambican Restaurant, 2 Sunrock Close, Sunnyrock Ext 2, Edenvale.
