Return to Mazista: a South African village recovers its health

Zinhle Mapumulo revisits a South African village in desperate need of health services and is pleasantly surprised.

Eight months ago, just before the G8 meeting in Germany, I visited the village of Mazista in the North West Province of South Africa and blogged about the stigma and fear felt there around HIV.

I described how villagers were too scared to disclose their HIV status and how the only easily accessible health service was a mobile clinic that visited twice a month.

A week after returning from Germany I received a call from the North West Department of Health inviting me to an open day in Mazista where they were planning to educate people about HIV and AIDS and voluntary counselling and testing (VCT).

Before I had a chance to accept, their media liaison asked me why I had to air their dirty laundry to the world. His question took me by surprise but made me wonder whether my article had anything to do with their invitation. I was told it was a coincidence.

I couldn’t make it to the open day and in any case I wasn’t sure it was worth travelling 300 km for what I believed to be a publicity stunt for the health department. To my surprise it was not.

The people of Mazista now have a mobile clinic that comes twice a week. Here they have access to testing and counselling for HIV. Some drugs not previously available, such as medication for tuberculosis, are also being delivered.

I learned this after a recent visit to the village, when once again I met Mmabo Lefatshe who had been so open about her HIV status and outspoken about the lack of services. She told me that some people in the village had been angry when they heard from the health authority that their business had been told to the world, but she said they now understood.
Lwandile Sicwetsha, health department spokesman told me Mazista had been identified as one of the priority areas for healthcare services in the province. “Home-based caregivers have been trained and are now working in the village and updating the ministry with information regarding health needs of people in Mazista,” he told me.

“Mobile clinics visit the area twice a week, but this is complemented by health programmes targeting the area with door-to-door campaigns and awareness campaigns on HIV and AIDS, pap smear and mental health.”

Good progress indeed. But even more could be done.

According to villagers the door-to-door visits happen once a month - not enough but better than nothing. However, the problem of access to antiretrovirals is yet to be addressed. Villagers still have to travel miles to get treatment.

And I am worried that people may not be taking advantage of the VCT being offered. The department could not provide me with data showing that people were utilising these services.

Things have definitely improved. But I suspect the final hurdle of overcoming stigma which prevents many from going for testing will take longer to surmount.

Comments

[tatianahunt download]

I have found two interesting sources ( Fileshunt.com and Filesfinds.com ) and would like to give the benefit of my experience to you.

[DSADASD]

Hi all
Thanks
I have found two interesting sources http://www.rapidsharedata.com and
http://www.rapidmore.com and would like to give the benefit of my experience to you.

[FREWA]

Hi all:
Thanks
I have found an interesting sources

rapidmore.com
and would like to give the benefit of my experience to you.

[cialis online]

Hi, I'm conducting an informal survey for mental health services, my question is, if you were to receive counseling or assistance from a mental health services provider, what would you want? For example if you are depressed, what kind of attention/care would you hope to get? I appreciate your time. Thanks!

[rapidshare download]

rapidshare search engine let you to find rapidshare files very easily.

[Dissertation Writing]

Yes,the village is in the North West is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Mafikeng. The province is located to the west of the major population center of Gauteng,also about the medical clinic you told,so this is really good and a helpful step for the people of the village from this they can maintain their healths,and will take a lot of the help.

[help with essay]

Thank you a lot, this was a very nice trip through the libc implementation.

[cheap marlboro cigarettes]

Fantastic article. Thanks for the great insight

[custom essay]

thanks for the post)

[canvas printing]

great article thanx for sharing

[gucci outlet]

“Mobile clinics visit the area twice a week, but this is complemented by health programmes targeting the area with door-to-door campaigns and awareness campaigns on HIV and AIDS, pap smear and mental health.”gucci outlet

[writing a dissertation]

I have been reading so many blogs since I am using internet but till now, this one is the one stop solution to all the problems I have been facing. Thank you.

[dissertation]

This article is really the one that I needed. I really learned a lot by reading the whole content. Thanks for this.

[Sandals Online]

A man can fail many times, but he isn't a failure until he begins to blame somebody else.

[ugg]

Thanks very much, I have learned a lot from your post. Well done, really!

[paulsmith]

Not only is this a great idea, it is so fun to read the blog to find out about the fun stuff you find!

[UK Dissertation]

This is my Good luck that I found your post which is according to my search and topic, I think you are a great blogger, thanks for helping me outta my problem..

[Instant Approval Loans Online]

I think they got the right person for the job. I definitely want this person running the show here. This is definitely an easy choice...

[Cash Advance No Employment Verification]

This is a very good news for the locals for the ones who are unemployed. I will make certain to bookmark this post.

[вебпромо]

I even told my friends to take a look at your blog and in fact your blog is already bookmarked on my computer.

[dissertation help]

You inspire me to be much more intelligent with the world! Thank you!

[uk essay writing]

Simply lovely!

[Paul Smith]

Merci beaucoup pour votre article.

[webpromo]

Nice post! Can’t wait for the next one. Keep stuff like this coming.

[college essay topics]

great) liked everything very much) keep it up and dont stop) good work!