Scores of residents converged on Lwandle Community Hall for the close of Mental Health Month, which was marked in conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, on Friday 31 October.
The event was organised by Ikhwezi Community Day Centre and various other local organisations.
Speaking on behalf of the centre, senior professional nurse Andiswa Bhaza described the event was intended to create awareness among community members of the the importance of ensuring their well-being. She said besides mental health and breast-cancer awareness other services provided by the centre include testing for HIV/Aids, tuberculosis, high blood pressure, baby immunisation and conducting pap smears.
“It is worth noting that services are brought to the people. Some community members visit our centre regularly, but there are those who don’t come here or come when seriously ill. Sometimes when they come it is already too late to assist them.”
She said the objective was to encourage the people to normalise visiting professional health-care centres. HIV counsellor at Phambili Community Centre Nolubabalo Manayi described the event as informative. Phambili is a non-governmental organisation that does home visits and delivers medication to patients.
Manayi said it is vital for people to know their bodies and urged community members to visit medical centres regularly.
Resident Xoliswa Jacobs praised Ikhwezi CDC for doing a great job.
“It is not easy to go to the clinic, especially when one is not sick because of the long queues. It is better when it runs these kinds of outreach programmes because they come to us and are quicker,” said Jacobs.
