CIVIL society, big businesses and the government will team up to promote family healthy living and disease prevention by implementing a massive, annual campaign that provides comprehensive, free health care services to tens of thousands of people in underprivileged communities, from 2 to 4 April.
Services over the three days will include HIV counselling and testing, screening for TB, diabetes and blood pressure tests, measles vaccinations, deworming and the dispensing of Vitamin A and more.
This programme is Rotary-led by the global Rotarian Action Group, Rotarians for Family Health and AIDS Prevention (RFHA). This action group is the mobilising partner of Rotary International in the area of disease prevention programmes.
RFHA has received an unprecedented commitment from the South African Department of Health (NDoH), The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation, the US Government Agencies – CDC (US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention) and USAID, and the SABC and Caxton as primary media partners.
The Rotary Family Health Days are a comprehensive, holistic offering of free healthcare for parents, children, grandparents, friends and all family members in more than 145 sites across the country. Approximately 4000 Rotarians from 225 Rotary Clubs will be volunteering between 9am to 4pm daily, working at sites to assist the medical staff and deliver the services to South Africans.
It is the vision of RFHA, Rotary leaders and other partners to expand the health event each year to other African countries. In 2014, the RFHD programme will run in Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho through the month of April.
The Rotary Club of Kloof’s volunteers select and manage the Lower Molweni Community Centre site, and together with several NGOs they will mobilise the community into action to attract citizens to the event.
Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders who dedicate their time and talent to tackle the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members from more than 200 countries and geographical areas.
Their work impacts lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio- free world.
They also bring together the kinds of people who step forward to take on important issues in local communities worldwide.
Rotary members hail from a range of professional backgrounds and through this community-based network, the organisation connects these unique perspectives and helps leverage its members’ expertise for them to live by the Rotary motto, Service Above Self.
Contact Dr Niki Rose on 082 897 2403, Selwyn Comrie on 0826594659 or to find out more about the RFHDs and the sites in your area visit www.rfha.org.za
The Rotary Club of Inchanga 1000 Hills and the Rotary Club of Westville will also be conducting clinics in their local areas.
