Members of the JL Zwane Memorial Church, in Gugulethu, in partnership with the Western Cape Department of Health held a wellness day at the church on Sunday 11 September to encourage and motivate the congregants and community to stay healthy.
The event was supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Project Last Mile. The agency is an independent body of the United States of America (USA) government responsible for development and aid outside the USA.
Nompumelelo Mantangana, church convener on wellness, described the event as a special day for the Gugulethu community. “Today we are rendering the services to the community free of charge. We are doing HIV testing, TB screening, Covid-19 vaccination and boosters, diabetes testing, blood pressure, weight screening and blood glucose level. We also encourage people to keep on testing for Covid-19. The pandemic is still out there,” she said.
She said, according to the studies from the government, the number of people who tested for Covid-19 in the townships is too low. “The aim is to encourage elders and young people to vaccinate and boost. Our target is to ensure that at least 100 people are vaccinated and get boosters,” she explained.
Nomtha Bell-Mandla, Klipfontein Substructure officer for vaccination programme coordinator, stated that the department noticed in most communities believed in church leaders more than government officials, hence a visit to the church. She described the event as a pilot project.
“Our relationship with the church started last year but it is our first event together with them,”she explained.
Resident Monica Mvuzo hailed the event. She described it as a great initiative and called on other departments to do the same.
“I was vaccinated before. So, I came today for boosters. I like such events because you don’t have to sit in the queue for a long time.
“Also such programmes are so informative because we have ample time to ask whatever you want,” said Mvuzo.