As part of Youth Month and June 16 celebrations, the Gugulethu Adolescent Youth Friendly Service (AYFS) urged young people to frequently visit the facility at the Gugulethu Community Health Centre.
The services form part of the Young Women and Girls project, in partnership with the provincial Health Department and the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, to reduce TB, HIV and teenage pregnancy among young women and girls in the Klipfontein area.
On Friday June 15 the health centre held a celebration that saw young people testing for various illnesses.
Social worker and a champion of the AYFS programme in Gugulethu, Nobubele Nomnga, said the facility aims to improve the sexual and reproductive health of both young men and young women. She said they have a problem of young people who do not come to the clinic. “The youth clinic treat young people with respect and dignity. The clinic was established so that they do not have to queue and wait a long time. Remember some are school-going children. We urge them to come and get help here,” she said, stressing the importance of young people living a healthy lifestyle.
Young people were also entertained with music and winning spot prizes during a question-and- answer session.
Peer navigator, Phathiswa Botya, also pleaded with young people to visit the facility. She praised the clinic and said it had given young people respect and dignity.
Ms Botya said all those youths interested in the services for youth could speak to her. “There is more help for them, and I am doing that. I work with youth so that they can feel free to ask anything. Young people are our priority. “We urge and encourage them to use the clinic for their benefit,” she said.
After the official address those attending the event also had some fun and sponsors also gave food parcels to the youth.
The clinic is open every day during the week. Young people from the age of 10 to youth aged 24 are welcome to seek help. Call 021 637 1280 or 021 633 00 20 for more details.