On a campaign to promote health among young people, Health MEC Dr Nomafrench Mbombo visited the False Bay TVET College to motivate students to check their health on a regular basis.
The visit was part of her Western Cape-wide awareness campaign at TVET colleges, and comes on the back of previous research that shows that young people don’t often visit health care centres, as they found them not to be youth-friendly.
Mbombo said TVET colleges also don’t normally have fully-fledged campus health clinics like universities, which is why High Health was donating mobile clinics that come with a professional nurse and render most of the services that are being offered at primary health-care centres.
Mbombo said the mobile clinics would address health challenges that could prevent young people from completing their studies. These challenges include mental health, tuberculosis and gender-based violence, among other things.
“Ideally, when that mobile clinic comes it must be a one-stop-shop where there will be NGOs creating awareness, testing for TB and other illnesses, vaccination and screening, not only for diabetes and hypertension, but also for issues related to mental health,” she said.
She said the reason why they had prioritised TVET colleges was because these institutions do not normally have developed health resources, like universities.
Didi Assure-Wertheim, Academic Manager at False Bay College, said the campaign was important to keep their students focused, and is contributing to their holistic approach to ensure the healthy development of their students.
“We want our students, when they graduate, to be well-rounded, well-integrated, balanced human beings,” said Wertheim.
Vice-chairperson of the Students Representative Council Anethemba Mgijima welcomed the initiative.
“Before coming to False Bay College, I was unaware of regular testing and screening, nor of lifestyle diseases such as blood pressure and cholesterol,” Mgijima said.
“As students, we are also informed about the importance of financial awareness, teaching us valuable skills that will benefit us way beyond our time at False Bay College,” she said.