Carryou Healthcare and Testing Programme sets new records

Carryou Ministry's Healthcare and Testing Programme (HCT) continues to grow.
 The programme is done in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Health, and in the past financial year reached even more people than the year before.
 Under the leadership of Programme Manager, Mzi Tshikitsha, twenty four people divided into two groups targeted high-traffic zones in Randfontein and surrounding areas.
 Gazebos containing testing, education and counselling facilities were set up in shopping malls, churches, factories, taxi-ranks and at informal settlements.
 Communities were educated and voluntarily tested for:

• Tuberculosis
• HIV/STI and condom use
• High blood pressure
• Sugar Diabetes
• Primary health.

 "Where necessary people were referred to clinics and other relevant health professionals," says Mzi. "For example, after testing, 1 717 people found to be suffering from hypertension were referred, 502 people for HIV and TB and over 15 000 people received counselling."
 More than one and a half million condoms were distributed, almost 400 000 more than in the previous year and over 125 000 people were reached.
 "There can be no doubt we made a difference and saved many lives," says Mzi. "We look forward to even better next year. Our long term vision is to see no new HIV and TB infections or deaths."

Programme Manager, Mzi Tshikitsha

Some of the team

Being part of Breast Cancer Awareness month

 October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and Carryou Ministry decided, in addition to their normal health screening programmes, they would make a contribution to cancer awareness and early treatment.
 "We wanted to make people aware of the disease and also to offer support to those affected by it," says Mzi Tshikitsha, Carryou Ministry Health Programmes Manager. "We are not normally involved in cancer awareness but, as it is Cancer Awareness month, we wanted to celebrate with survivors and provide education to people at risk."
 Gazebos were set up in the parking-lot of a busy, downtown shopping centre last Friday, and the awareness campaign got into full swing, with counselors and health advisers on hand.

Education

 "We mostly provided education and people who believed they may be at risk were referred to local health clinics for further investigation and treatment," says Mzi. "Women who went through the process, were given a pink scarf and educational material and could avail themselves to the other screening facilities we had available. But we did not want to leave out the men. They were offered a number of tests, including high blood pressure, HIV and sugar diabetes.
 "In all, 121 people made use of our services that day," says Mzi. "I am sure some lives were saved, as cancer is often treatable if detected early. Early detection is vital."

Lives saved and an impact made

The Team

 In August 2014 the Department of Health introduced two programs, Social Mobilization and HIV Counseling and Testing. These projects were set up to operate in alliance with local health clinics and communities.
 They are vital to the clinics, as they help those institutions achieve the targets prescribed by the Department of Health.
 The Carryou Ministry Social Mobilization program is a process where a wide range of people within the community are engaged with, to raise awareness of and education about important health issues. Carryou Health Coordinators educate, present information and keep members of the community updated on important health issues.
 The HIV Counseling and Testing program provides services to individuals, couples and families and, throughout the year, a large number of informal settlements and companies were visited on a regular basis.
 The counselors are highly trained and work closely with allied organizations and professions. Testing results are available within 20 minutes and people who test positive are counseled and referred to clinics and other health practitioners for further treatment.

Statistics

 During the year 6553 people were tested for HIV and other ailments. Of these 3694 were males and 2859 females. 120 females tested positive, as opposed to 85 males.
 784 913 male condoms and 84 622 female condoms were distributed. 181 TB cases were detected and referred for further treatment and 6993 people were tested for hypertension.
 "There is no doubt, these two programs have had a major impact and saved many lives," says Mzi Tshikitsha, Program Manager.

Meet our people: Christinah van Rooyen

 Christinah van Rooyen (63) joined Carryou Ministry last year as a Social Mobilisation Co-Coordinator, following a long career in the nursing sector.
 "I worked as an Assistant Nurse at Sir Albert Hospital in Randfontein from 1982 until 2009, until health issues caused me to take a break," she says. "Then I did part-time work at Lesedi Private Hospital in Soweto and also worked at a hospital in Carletonville.
 "I live in Finsbury (Randfontein) and often came into contact with Home-based Care workers from Carryou and they told me about the wonderful work being done by the organisation.
 "That prompted me to drop off a copy of my CV at the Carryou offices and the rest is history," she says.
 "I love what I do. It is incredibly rewarding to change people's lives by teaching them about health matters. My team and I visit factories, settlements and places like the municipal dumping sites to teach people about the importance of being tested for HIV, high blood pressure, TB and sugar diabetes. We encourage them to limit the number of sexual partners they are involved with, to use condoms and adopt healthy lifestyles."

Hope

 Christinah grew up in Westonaria and when she married moved to Toekomsrus. She is now a single parent and lives in Finsbury.
 "I live with my youngest daughter and my grandson, who I am raising because his mother died," she says. "When not working or taking care of my family I spend most of my time at my church where I am one of the leaders.
 "My hope is that I continue doing what I am doing for many years to come. I think it vital we older people encourage and groom the youngsters, so they can be prepared and able to face the future.
 "Kids face many challenges today and, as elders, we cannot sit and let the world pass by without helping and becoming involved."

Meet our people: Pearl Motingoe

 "I've always wanted to be a nurse - even now!" says Carryou Ministry, Social Mobilisation Coordinator, Pearl Motingoe (26).
 "I did my schooling in Krugersdorp but, because my Mom died during that time, I wasn't able to complete my matric. Studying further then, was simply not an option, so I got a job at a fast-food chain where I worked as a cashier.
 "But I soon realised, that was definitely not for me," she says. "I managed to save enough to enrol at a college and completed my matric.
 "For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a nurse and, once I had my matric certificate, I enrolled at a nursing college in Krugersdorp but could only afford to do a course that qualified me as an Ancillary Nurse.
 "I got a job at Krugersdorp Private Hospital but it was a temporary position and only for six months but it confirmed what I'd always known - I wanted to spend my life helping people."

Advert

 Then she saw an advert for a position as a Health Coordinator at Carryou.
 "I applied and joined the organisation in August last year," says Pearl. "A large part of my function is giving health talks to workers at factories and companies on topics like HIV, TB and Malaria. It is very rewarding and fulfilling."
 Pearl is married with a two year-old son.
 "He brings great joy to me," she says. "He is both naughty and clever!"
 When not working or caring for her family, she is deeply involved in church activities.
 "My goal in five years is to have a degree in nursing, my own home and my own car," she says. "But I realise it's not going to be easy. I am struggling to get a bursary and a spot at a nursing college.
 "Maybe I'll end up studying Social Work through UNISA - they won't tell me they're full!"