Community Awareness
WE WANT TO SEE…
communities where people are aware of the treatment options that are available to those with chronic illness, and where those in the early stages of illness get the medical support that they need.
communities where people are aware of the treatment options that are available to those with chronic illness, and where those in the early stages of illness get the medical support that they need.
Izandla Zethemba aims to run three Awareness Days a year. Each event will target 200 community members from the surrounding low-income housing areas and informal settlements.
The Awareness Days focus on the following topics: Women's Health, HIV/AIDS and TB. People will be invited through door-to-door visiting, pamphlet drops and posters in places of community gathering. We work together with other local Community Based Organisations who are part of the Multi-Sectoral Action team (co-ordinated through the Dept of Health, City of Cape Town). We also partner larger organisations (such as Life Choices, CANSA, Reproductive Health Clinic, Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation) and local clinics that provide various health related tests. Inspiring guest speakers provide motivational stories and professionals give up-to-date information to those who attend. We also build in something interesting or memorable with our Awareness Day in order to attract community members, e.g. candle light vigil or soccer games.
Our goal is that community members will walk away the following:
1. inspiration to make healthy life choices
2. better understanding about the chronic illness that was in focus
3. having had access to health testing so they know their personal health status
4. received a referral to the correct health facility, if required
5. changed attitude towards the chronic illness and treatment
The Awareness Days focus on the following topics: Women's Health, HIV/AIDS and TB. People will be invited through door-to-door visiting, pamphlet drops and posters in places of community gathering. We work together with other local Community Based Organisations who are part of the Multi-Sectoral Action team (co-ordinated through the Dept of Health, City of Cape Town). We also partner larger organisations (such as Life Choices, CANSA, Reproductive Health Clinic, Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation) and local clinics that provide various health related tests. Inspiring guest speakers provide motivational stories and professionals give up-to-date information to those who attend. We also build in something interesting or memorable with our Awareness Day in order to attract community members, e.g. candle light vigil or soccer games.
Our goal is that community members will walk away the following:
1. inspiration to make healthy life choices
2. better understanding about the chronic illness that was in focus
3. having had access to health testing so they know their personal health status
4. received a referral to the correct health facility, if required
5. changed attitude towards the chronic illness and treatment