This Youth Month, City Health is encouraging young people to access life-saving primary health services. In a bid to make its services more accessible, the department already offers dedicated timeslots at clinics for youth-specific services.
All City clinics offer youth-specific services to encourage young people to invest in their health and wellbeing. While services can be accessed at any time, designated hours of 14:00 – 16:00 were introduced some years ago, specifically for adolescents.
More recently, seven clinics have established youth zones – offering dedicated waiting and treatment areas. These clinics are Delft South, Bloekombos, Wallacedene, Langa, Lentegeur, Dr Ivan Toms and Ikhwezi.
Youth zone readiness assessments are under way at 11 more clinics, including Adriaanse, Elsies River, St. Vincent, Manenberg, Masincedane, Vuyani, Gugulethu, Matthew Goniwe, Albow Gardens, Wesbank and Sarepta.
‘City Health offers critical services for young people, particularly for sexual and reproductive health, substance abuse treatment and mental health services. And, while this group makes up the largest percentage of clients accessing certain services, we can do better. Stigma continues to be a stumbling block – hence the efforts to provide safe spaces for our young clients where they can access care without judgment. It is a work in progress, but I encourage our young people to please reach out and make full use of the services on offer,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham.
The package of services tailored to the needs of young people includes:
· Sexual and reproductive health care
· Access to various contraceptive methods
· TB screening and treatment
· HIV screening and treatment
· Emergency contraceptives
· Provision of Pre exposure prophylaxis and post exposure prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP)
· Substance abuse programme
· Mental health services
‘Our clinics also maintain a schedule for regular school outreach visits, where health promotion and screening services are provided. In response to a recent increase in teen suicides, City Health is working more closely with schools to place a greater emphasis on youth mental health,’ said Councillor Higham.
Youth can now book appointments through the City Health self-service portal, improving access and convenience.
To access the portal, click on the link here: https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Book/Book-a-clinic-appointment/Book-your-clinic-appointment-online
