The Sediba Hope Medical Centre aims to continue bringing free healthcare screenings to region 7 residents as it has been since January.
The central-based non-profit has partnered with Wits’ reproductive health and HIV Institute (RHI) under the project Operation Gophelega (Sepedi for striving for good health).
Wits RHI’s District Support Partnership Programme aims to advance research for HIV and TB prevention, as well as care and treatment.
“We are committed to working with community leaders, businesses, community-based organisations, and interest groups to provide health screening and HIV testing to the residents of region 7,” said Sediba Hope Medical Centre’s operations coordinator and project coordinator, Chantal Graca-Correia.
Operation Gophelega is financially backed by the US president’s emergency plan for Aids relief (PEPFAR) and has received a vote of confidence from the Centre of Disease Control (CDC) as well.
The initiative is said to be supported by local community leader, Lida Erasmus, a DA candidate for the Tshwane ward 105 by-election (Bronkhorstspruit).
Erasmus said she got involved in the effort because she shares the stakeholders’ vision for improving the health and well-being of residents in ward 105 and the local community of region 7.
“Sediba Medical Centre’s goal is to test the community for HIV and immediately link newly diagnosed positive cases to care, with the assistance of healthcare providers in the area. Our team will be conducting door-to-door visits and staff wellness campaigns with various businesses and we welcome all organisations, businesses, NGOs and community leaders to join us in our efforts,” Erasmus said.
Sediba plans to support Erasmus’ upcoming Health Focus Campaign in ward 105 (Sokhulumi village) from March 20-25.
Founded in 2012, the Sediba Centre has been providing affordable and reputable healthcare services to inner-city residents for over 10 years. In late November 2022, they received a donation of 600 rapid test kits from the Korea Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea.
The kits test a range of diseases such as HIV, Covid-19, syphilis, and hepatitis.
The care centre has branches in both Bosman Street and Sunnyside.
For more information, contact [email protected].
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