In the current year, more than 5,000 healthcare services have been extended to students and local community residents throughout the Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality through a mobile clinic. This initiative forms an integral part of a healthcare program that focuses on identifying health-related obstacles to learning among students and ensuring that communities have access to top-tier healthcare services.
Teaming up with the District Department of Health, Zeerust Solar has been the vital funder and supporter of this endeavour as part of their School Health Programme, which aims to deliver free and accessible healthcare to locals, including providing primary healthcare services, oral healthcare services, optometry services, health education, as well as follow-ups and referrals.
“Our commitment to supporting the community in this way demonstrates our dedication to enhancing the well-being of the people we support. This initiative addresses immediate healthcare needs and helps to improve children’s health, reduce health barriers to learning, and promote positive attitudes and behaviours that will benefit learners’ current and future health,” stated Julius Nong, Community Project Officer for Zeerust Solar.
This School Health Programme, which commenced in 2021, has now provided 5,132 healthcare services in 2023 alone. Among the beneficiaries, 217 individuals have been prescribed and issued free spectacles to improve their vision and quality of life.
Titus Ramadie, the Integrated School Health Programme District Coordinator, expressed his appreciation for the programme, stating, “A programme of this nature assists our learners to receive the full range of Integrated School Health services and get the help they need.”
Having initially targeted Grade 1 and 8 learners, in alignment with the Department of Health’s Integrated School Health Programme, it has expanded its reach to other grades and even serves local community members during school holidays.
The services provided included: primary healthcare services; oral healthcare services; optometry services with free spectacles being issued for learners and community members; health education including sexual reproductive health topics; and referrals for further care for those identified.
