AS a health professional every day I see abused and assaulted children and adults, domestic violence, TB patients who don’t even have a slice of bread to take with their medication, children turning at death’s door due to diseases like gastro, dehydration and malnutrition and seeking help without shoes or decent clothing.
I also see many colleagues sacrificing the allure of the private sector to work with the poorest of the poor and local Paarl health professionals doing free assessments of HIV orphans or doing counselling of young rape survivors voluntarily or at a nominal fee. There are also some GP practices who accommodate lower income clients and pensioners or render services to farm workers. We have somatologists readily giving gift vouchers for worthy cause fundraising.
We have active NGO’s, churches and charity organisations who, despite our rural location, are actively addressing issues such as HIV, TB, palliative care, cancer care, drug abuse, etc. on minute budgets.
What a wonderful world it would be if our chief issue was what position we had our pedicures done in, and warding off a car guard who is otherwise unemployed and most often a single mother.
We cannot write off Paarl with generalisations about somatologists, health professionals and even the infamous car guards... there are many exceptions.
There is so much more to be found to define this wonderful diverse tapestry of the Paarl community.
Proud of Paarl
