By Nape Masemola
Services offered during the health days included HIV and tuberculosis screening and testing, blood pressure and diabetes screening, cancer screening and childhood immunisation.
Health services are being brought closer to rural communities as Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi leads the annual commemoration of Rotary Family Health Days at Ga-Kgwete, Marula Mine, in Fetakgomo-Tubatse Municipality.
The initiative sought to improve access to comprehensive, free and family-centred healthcare, particularly for communities living far from health facilities.
The campaign aligns with the National Strategic Plan on HIV, TB and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), while supporting broader efforts to address South Africa’s disease burden, including non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, which remain a significant public health concern.
Launched in 2011, Rotary Family Health Days promote early detection, disease prevention and access to reliable health information to improve community wellbeing and life expectancy.
The campaign also provided parents and caregivers with an opportunity to have children immunised against vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles and rubella.
Services offered during the health days included HIV and tuberculosis screening and testing, blood pressure and diabetes screening, cancer screening and childhood immunisation.
Through this initiative, communities were encouraged to prioritise preventive healthcare, seek early diagnosis and access essential health services to build healthier families and stronger communities.
