HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAM AT PAKAMISA
Pakamisa Private Game Reserve conducted their third health
clinic for all the staff at the end of June. These clinics have proven to be
extremely important, not only for managing the health status of the staff, but
for the educational value that is shared in the group.
The clinics are run by Siloah Lutheran Hospital situated
approximately 60kms away in the rolling hills of Dlomodlomo.
They are an NPO,
funded by the Department of Health, and a primary health care facility providing HIV, AIDS and
TB-related treatment, care and support services. Their health care program monitors, and proactively works towards the improved health and well-being of
families in surrounding areas. They provide HIV counselling and testing (HCT). They
are an accredited anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment initiation and on-going
treatment site.
Statistically there are over 6 million confirmed cases of HIV in South
Africa, ie. 12.5% of the total population (estimated at 50million). Of these,
3.5 million are being treated through Government or private outlets. This means
that 2.5 million cases are untreated, possibly due to lack of testing. It is essential
to encourage people to be tested and treated as soon as possible.
According to Dr. Heinz Niebuhr, CEO and Clinical Manager at
Siloah, there are an estimated 200 new HIV infections daily in the 16 – 30 year age group. These young women are extremely vulnerable as they have a tendency to be
seduced by older men, known as ‘blessers’. Once these relationships terminate
the girls gravitate back to their own age group males, and the cycle of
infection is well under way. Women are testing for HIV, but it proves more
difficult to persuade men.
Thankfully the incidence of TB infection has halved in the
past 5 years among women as they tend to be in a treatment program. In fact
the transmission of HIV from pregnant mother to child has declined dramatically
to almost zero incidence, again thanks to women being more responsive to
testing and treatment.
Pakamisa is extremely grateful to Siloah for their
commitment to our
health and wellness program and collectively we hope to
reduce the incidence of HIV and TB in our community.
CONTACT:
Pakamisa Private Game Reserve:
Phone: +27 83 229 1811
E-mail: res@pakamisa.co.za
Siloah Lutheran Hospital
Phone: 034 907 5224
E-mail: hfn@lantic.net
Phone: 034 907 5224
E-mail: hfn@lantic.net
