After hours clinic now open
2007-11-01
LESS than half of clients who access HIV testing at state clinics are male.
“I can’t take time off from work,” is the most common excuse for this statistic.
Men quite often turn up for assistance only when they are already very ill and unable to perform their duties anymore.
For this very reason an after hours clinic for working people was opened by Drakenstein Mayor Charmaine Manuel on Tuesday at the Be Part Research Centre in Madikane Street, Mbekweni.
She showed her commitment and leadership in being the first client to be tested.
In addition, deputy mayor Wilhelm Nothnagel and fellow municipal council members volunteered for testing to show their commitment, and stress the urgency for this project to succeed for the benefit of the Drakenstein community.
The After Hours Walk-in Clinic will in future be offering free HIV testing and counselling every Tuesday evening from 17:00 until 20:00 (5pm-8pm) for the first 15 clients who turn up.
In addition to the counsellors, a professional nurse and doctor will be available to accommodate working people who prefer not to take time off work in preparation for anti-retroviral therapy.
Most companies or businesses in the Drakenstein municipal area are sure to have come across the disastrous effects of the HIV epidemic in the workplace. All seem to benefit by early testing.
HIV is a manageable disease when monitored regularly and when the necessary precautions are taken timeously.
Not everyone needs anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs straight away, but regular clinic visits offer the opportunity to screen for other illnesses and to prepare someone for ARV-therapy.
Treatment can be initiated before that critical “drop” in immunity that renders an individual bedridden and unfit to work.
If such trauma can be avoided, it benefits the employer and dependents by minimising sick leave and disruptions to systems at work; and ensures that you remain healthy and fit, in control of your life.
Contact Nicolene at the centre during office hours on 021-868-3990/2.
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