South Africa's New Antenatal Clinic
In Johannesburg, Oasis focuses on the marginalised community of Cosmo City and its surrounding slum communities. The area has no government health services, leading to an incredibly high HIV infection rate and the unbridled spread of preventable diseases.
In partnership with the Government, Oasis initiated a wellness programme in the Cosmo area. Community health workers are at the heart of the programme, providing home-based care to those most in need, while also working to educate people to stay healthy.
We also run a basic primary healthcare clinic once a week. Oasis provides the staff and facilities, while medication is provided by the government. We serve many people, but hundreds more need our help, especially pregnant women.
Women like Ntombi, who lives near Cosmo City. Ntombi, pregnant for the first time, knew the importance of regular checkups. She needed £2 to pay for public transport to the nearest antenatal clinic, but being unemployed, it was a few weeks before she could make the journey. When she had the money, she left home at 5am, got to the clinic at 7am and joined the already long queue. At 8am she was told to go home, as the queue was too long. She managed to do this two more times during her pregnancy, but was turned away every time.
Finally, worried that something was wrong, she took the long journey to the nearest accident & emergency unit. Sadly, she lost her baby due to pregnancy induced hypertension - a treatable condition if detected early enough. The staff were very upset and shouted at her for not having had regular checkups.
This kind of situation is common, and all the more frustrating, as conditions like Ntombi's are treatable. The government have approached Oasis, asking us to open an antenatal clinic to help the many women like Ntombi.
Oasis already employs professional nursing staff who can provide this service, and medication will be supplied by the government. Vitally, the clinic will allow HIV testing; mothers can get appropriate preventative treatment if they need it, ensuring that their babies are born HIV negative.
Specialised equipment is the only missing component still preventing us to commence this service. We hope to be able to open the new clinic in November.
Find more information on Oasis South Africa here.