New clinic launched for taxi drivers in Orange Farm
The clinic was launched in partnership with the Orange Farm United Taxi Association (Ofuta).
Rhiza healthcare manager Lerato Seheri said the initiative was influenced by the difficulty taxi drivers face in going to clinics due to their tight schedules.
'Taxi drivers avoid going to a clinic because their working conditions don't allow them the time to wait in long queues,' Seheri said.
'With this new service, they'll get treatment fast. Quick in and out, no long lines. It's a quality service built around their reality. The clinic is tailor-made to suit their busy schedules and their pockets. It meets them where they are and provides them with care without disrupting their day.'
The consultation fee will be between R100 and R300.
Seheri said the initiative aligns with the government's 'Closing the Gap' Art Campaign, which aims to initiate and retain 1.1-million people on antiretroviral therapy (Art) by December to achieve the 95-95-95 HIV targets.
Beyond HIV, she said the clinic would deal with general health issues affecting men.
'There's a broader challenge — men's health in general and how we link men to healthcare services effectively. Men are far less likely than women to engage routine health services and that gap often leads to late diagnoses of preventable or manageable conditions. With this clinic, we're addressing this gap.'
HIV, Aids, sexually transmitted infections and TB (Hast) programme manager, Mmakobo Gaegake, shared Seheri's sentiments, emphasising the need for a healthcare facility for taxi drivers.
'The launch of the clinic in the taxi rank will assist in bringing health services to the busiest point in Orange Farm. Taxi drivers will work, access health services and continue with their day-to-day life. The clinic will promote healthy living in disadvantaged communities.'
Ofuta welcomed the initiative.
'We're happy to see this clinic open. It's something our drivers have needed for a long time. They work long hours, always on the move, and often don't get the chance to look after their health. Rhiza Babuyile and the department of health heard and saw us and they delivered. This helps not just taxi drivers but everyone who counts on us to keep moving,' said the association's spokesperson Monty Motsopa.
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Health workers should look at by how much the appointment date was missed, as well as a patient's health status to decide what service they need, she says. Giving people who've been managing their condition well enough medicine to last them six months at a time can go a long way, Wilkinson told Bhekisisa's Health Beat team in July. 'Getting 180 pills in one go reduces the number of clinic visits [only twice a year], which eases the workload on staff. But it also helps patients to stay on their treatment by cutting down on their transport costs and time off work,' Wilkinson said. Zambia, Malawi, Lesotho and Namibia have all rolled out six-month dispensing — and have already reached the UN's target of having 95% of people on medicine at a virally suppressed level. According to the health department, South Africa will start rolling out six-month dispensing in August. 'But not everyone wants this,' said Wilkinson, pointing out that experiences from other countries showed that 50 to 60% of people choose six-monthly pick-ups. It speaks to tailoring service delivery to patients' needs, says Rees, rather than enforcing a one-size-fits-all system when more than one size is needed. Says Rees: 'Facing funding constraints, we really need tailored service delivery to keep the [HIV treatment] programme where it is.' DM
