The 5th consecutive year of Rotary Family Health Days

1. August 2017 ♦ Rotary Africa ♦ 17
Inspiring Thousands To Serve Millions is the Rotarians for
Family Health and AIDS Prevention (RFHA) slogan and nowhere
is that more true than in the case of Rotary Family Health Days.
From the first event that reached 38 000 people in 2011 to
nearly half a million people being reached in five countries in
2016, Rotary Family Health Days is an example of a project that
has already grown beyond all expectations.
South Africa hosts Rotary Family Health Days for the fifth
consecutive year in 2017. The event will take place from 3 - 5
October and this year, the aim is to bring free health services to
a record 100 000 people.
The project was started and managed by RFHA in partnership
with the National Department of Health and Rotary clubs in
South Africa. Rotary Family Health Days is also supported by
Gilead Sciences, PEPFAR, Caxton, the SABC Foundation, Alere
and numerous support media houses. This year, the Gift of
the Givers Foundation and the University of Johannesburg’s
Community Engagement will join the partnership.
Rotary Family Health Days offers free health services and
vital screenings to underserved communities. These include HIV
counselling and testing, screening for TB, diabetes, high blood
pressure and cholesterol as well as Vitamin A supplementation
and various immunisations.
This year, the National Department of Health is focusing on
the She Conquers campaign. The campaign was implemented
to empower and support adolescent girls and young women.
It was born from evidence that suggests a disproportionate
burden of HIV among 15-24 year old adolescent girls and
young women in South Africa. UNAIDS has estimated that there
are almost 2 000 new HIV infections among adolescent girls
and young women aged 15-24 years each week. The RFHDs
will support the campaign.
RFHD has been so successful in South Africa that the
programme is now being rolled out in other African countries
and India. At the 2017 Rotary International Convention in
Atlanta, Foundation Trustee Chair, Kalyan Banerjee, cited the
RFHD in his address on the impact of the Foundation “... here
is another number to consider - 423 795 – that is how many
people received free health care in the Rotary Family Health
Days in Ghana, India, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda in
2016. When this programme started in 2011, only 38 000
people were treated in only two countries. But that is how it
is with many successful Rotary Foundation projects they grow
and expand affecting more and more people every year.”
None of this can happen without all the partners who donate
their services and more importantly, the help of volunteers who
give up their time to make a difference. RFHD needs assistance
at each of its planned sites across South Africa. If you would
like to volunteer at this, a huge public/private partnership
with an impressive track record, visit our website at www.
rfhdsouthafrica.org.
With so many thousands inspired, we are confident that
millions across the world will be served by future Rotary Family
Health Days.
JOIN US!
Advertorial
Rotarians for Family Health
& Aids Prevention, Inc.
3 - 5 October 2017
The 5th consecutive year of Rotary Family Health Days
Join me, Refilwe Shuping of the National Department of Health
And join us, Catherine MacMillan, DGE Gianna Doubell (Eastern
Cape, D9370) and DGE Charles Deiner (Nelspruit, D9400)
Join us, Ruth Stuart-Thompson (Haenertsburg), Rotaractor Wisdom
Mudzhidzhidzhi (UJ Community Engagement), Sue Paget, Rotarian
Fungi Nquana, coordinator of the Mpumalanga launch site.
Join us, PP Annemarie Mostert, Sue Paget (RFHD southern Africa
programme director and global programme advisor and Rotaractors
from the University of Johannesburg