ILLUMINATING COMMUNITIES THROUGH HEALTH CARE SUPPORT INITIATIVE
November 2023, Northern Cape, Khai Ma municipal area
In a collaborative effort to address primary healthcare needs in the Northern Cape, two local solar farms have funded a programme to strengthen the Khai-Ma Municipality’s Department of Health by fortifying services through a mobile health initiative in the towns of Pofadder, Witbank, Pella, and Onseepkans.
The programme, which commenced during March this year, reached four communities and served almost 1,500 community members, predominantly school children. Funded by Aggeneys Solar and Konkoonsies II Solar, the primary objectives of the initiative included providing essential health care screening, oral screening, optometry screening, and health education for learners and community members.
This effort aims to offer system-strengthening support to the Khai-Ma Local Department of Health, which faces challenges related to inadequate resources and staffing.
Implemented in collaboration with INNOVO Mobile Healthcare, the programme conducted comprehensive screenings and health education sessions with a particular emphasis on topics such as healthy eating, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, and water safety among school learners.
The Mobile Health Care Support programme has supported four schools across the communities providing vital health services, contributing to the overall well-being of the communities.
“We are proud to have reached a milestone in September this year, which included the hand-over of 411 prescription glasses to the Department of Education and the Department of Health, following optometry services rendered by our implementation partners. We believe that this programme has had a positive impact on healthcare services and education in the Khai-Ma Municipality showcasing the tangible benefits that arise from collaboration,” said Jeremy Prins, Social Performance Co-Ordinator for Aggeneys Solar and Konkoonsies II Solar.
Note:
Beneficiary schools included: Pella Primary, Witbank Primary, St Anne Primary and St Philomena Primary. In total, 1,455 beneficiaries were serviced, including 748 learners, 89 educators, and 618 community members who underwent screenings.