Health, environment and GBV issues addressed at the Parkhurst Clinic Open Day
Sergeant Iris Phoko of the Parkview Police Station Victim Support Unit described domestic violence as any form of abuse where people may be related or living together in one space.
The current year has highlighted the importance of health matters and Parkhurst Clinic rode upon the wave.
At the Parkhurst Clinic Open Day, residents were informed and made aware of services offered by the clinic. Emcee Tshepo Maenetja headed the event while members of the clinic’s committee Christo Morolong opened the programme with a prayer and Grace Matoni welcomed all attendees.
Yanga Ngciva of Old Mutual shared the house rules and encouraged attendees to check their Covid-19 symptoms as the virus was still active. He encouraged people to keep their masks on and wear them properly while maintaining social distance and sanitising.
Operational manager at the clinic, Hazel Mabulwana talked about the services offered at the clinic which included child immunisation, HIV tests, TB treatment and Covid-19 screening and testing among many others.
“We conduct HIV tests and for pregnant women found positive, we give treatment to prevent mother to child transmission. Most people are reluctant to attend antenatal visits but these are important and one will have a maximum of six visits. Thereafter, children need to be immunised until the age of six,” Mabulwana explained.
She added that they also visited schools to offer pregnancy prevention services and encouraged people to not wait until they were sick to have HIV tests, or pap smears to check for cancer of the womb.
Domestic violence
Sergeant Iris Phoko of the Parkview Police Station Victim Support Unit described domestic violence as any form of abuse where people may be related or living together in one space. This may include physical assault, sexual assault, stalking, emotional abuse and more. “When attending to a case of domestic violence [assault], we first ask if one of you has a firearm and if that is the case then we confiscate it. The next step is to get the victim to a place of safety,” said Phoko.
She added that victims would be given an interim protection order before they apply for a permanent one. “You, however, need to proceed to apply for a permanent protection order in court because the interim one expires. Once you have the order, police escort you to the perpetrator to serve them the order and make sure they comply. If the perpetrator fails to comply, then the charge is no longer assault but rather a charge of contempt of court and this means they will not be granted bail.”
She said a victim of assault had the right to ask someone else to open a case on their behalf if they were too afraid to. Parents also have the right to open cases on behalf of abused children, and Parkview Police Station had a Victim Support Room available for such cases.
Speaking on behalf of the Department of Social Development Victim Empowerment Programme, Dumisile Ntshalintshali said victims of abuse should not suffer alone but report to the department which would refer them to victim empowerment organisations. Social worker Zainab Cader who serves at the Parkhurst Clinic, said victims of gender-based violence could also report at the clinic. The clinic would in turn refer them to the police or victim empowerment organisations.
Environmental health
Yvonne Molema of City of Joburg Environmental Health addressed illegal dumping. Molema said, “All waste should go to a demarcated area. If you don’t have the 240l wheelie bin, put it in a refuse bag that can be collected. Illegal dumping is a criminal offence and if you see someone doing so please report them.”
She added that illegally dumped waste caused environmental pollution and contaminated streams. She discouraged people who wore disposable surgical masks to not just throw them away anywhere as this may cause the spread of diseases.
“We advise that when disposing of it [masks], just cut off the strips and wrap with a tissue then throw into a designated bin. The removal of strips is because displaced people tend to pick them up and just wear them without knowing who previously wore it.”
Attendees also participated in aerobics during intervals and were also given a demonstration of how to wash their hands properly.
Details: Parkhurst Clinic is on corner 5th Avenue and 14th Street, Parkhurst.
