Scores of Khayelitsha residents, mostly senior citizens, gathered at Andile Msizi hall, in Site B, for a health awareness event aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle.
The event on Monday June 11 was organised by the provincial department of local government in partnership with Doctors Without Borders, the provincial Department of Health, City Health and TB and HIV Care.
Tests for HIV, hypertension, blood pressure and blood sugar levels were conducted.
While the event was aimed at encouraging young people to take care of their health, few of them attended . Community development worker at the provincial local government, Nolitha Dalase, said they wanted Khayelitsha residents to start taking their health seriously. She said they also wanted to bring health services to the community and expose residents to various healthcare organisations.
Ms Dalase said they also wanted to caution residents about the dangers of defaulting on their treatment. She said diabetes was one of the common diseases in the townships because the majority of people did not watch their diet.
She said there was a general perception that living a healthy lifestyle was expensive.
“We are preaching a gospel of living a healthy lifestyle,” she said. “We were hoping to reach 200 people, but we exceeded that number.”
Ms Dalase urged residents to go for health screenings and HIV testing. “Healthy living is the way to go. We want our communities to put their health first . Prevention is better than cure,” she said.
Head of community health workers at Doctors Without Borders, Simo Sithandathu, said as an organisation their mandate was to go around and conduct health screenings and raise health awareness.
He said they target young people, in particular men. He said it was important for healthcare services to be taken to the communities.
Project co-ordinator for TB and HIV Care, Thembelani Mabhiya, said they have healthcare educators in schools and they conduct screenings for HIV, TB and STIs.
He called for various health organisations to work together and for men to visit health facilities and be leaders in the battle for a healthy lifestyle.
He urged the residents to practice safe sex and exercise regularly .
Resident Neliswa Vulindlu hailed the event.
She said sometimes healthcare facilities were far from them.
She said they hoped to get a mobile clinic in order to bring services closer to the people.
She expressed disappointed with the low number of young people who attended the event.