Rotary Family Health Day celebrate its 10th year of assisting thousands in need
This year Rotary Family Health Days (RFHD) is celebrating its 10th year with an online event on Friday the 5th of November 2021. Speakers at this Rotary Family Health Days event in South Africa include Jennifer Jones (2022/23 Rotary International President) and the South African Minister of Health, The Honourable Dr Joe Phaahla. During this event, Dr Joe Phaahla will also be unveiling the World AIDS
Day 2021 theme alongside messages of support by some of the RFHD partners: SANAC (South African National AIDS Council), RFHA, Civil Society, and the Disability Sector.
RFHD is the signature programme of the Rotary Action Group for Family Health and AIDS Prevention (RFHA) and is currently in its 10th year. This unique programme, which is currently active in nine countries, with at least three more countries set to launch in the next six months, provides comprehensive and preventative health programmes that build healthier communities.
With an estimated 3,5 billion people who don’t have access to affordable healthcare, the vision of RFHA (Rotary Action Group for Family Health and AIDS Prevention) is clear: to save and improve lives around the world. Working across Africa and India, RFHA provides free preventative healthcare resources and services with a direct impact on strengthening the existing healthcare infrastructure at community level.
Key to its success are the public/private partnerships that RFHA builds between governments, the private sector, NGOs, the media, communities, and Rotary clubs and districts on the ground. By mobilising a network of hundreds of Rotary clubs across the various districts within each country, Rotary club members work towards the same goal; to bring healthcare services to hundreds of thousands of people from communities who otherwise can’t access them.
Professional monitoring and evaluation have tracked the success of Rotary Family Health Days since its inception in 2011. To date, more than 5 million people have been reached and over 11 million free health services provided. These include educational and referral services for follow-up care, testing for a variety of diseases including HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Blood Pressure, TB, Hepatitis B and C, Diabetes, and some Cancers. Also provided are immunisations for Polio and Measles, Vitamin A supplements, deworming, hygiene packs, dental cleaning supplies, and male and female condoms. Many locations have add-on services such as dental examinations, optometry, audiology, and mental health counselling.
Furthermore, the programme stays abreast of global and local health regulations and challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and rights facing Civil Society and the Disability Sector.
“Rotary Family Health Day remains one of the most unique conduits to reach disadvantaged communities with quality health services, especially people with disabilities,” says Dr Thembisile Xulu, CEO of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC). “In remote areas, people with disabilities bear the brunt of the lack of adequate social, economic and health services and the advent of COVID-19 has exacerbated the situation. RFHD gives us an opportunity to change that narrative by ensuring that access to quality care, treatment and support is improved”
“Having a disability or being differently-abled should not hinder you from exercising or staying active,” said Sinayo Mukume, an ambassador of the HER Voice Fund, a new
Rotary Family Health Days programme partner. “I was a wheelchair basketball player, which helped me to stay active and healthy, but there are many things you can do to achieve this if you are a person with a disability. But remember, it is always best to consult a doctor or physician to make sure that you are not putting strain on your body.”
Being educated, advised, and informed about your health and body is of utmost importance, not only for your own well-being, but for the sake of your loved ones.
About Rotary International
Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbours, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in their communities, and in themselves. To find out more about Rotary Family Health
Days or to learn how Rotary clubs help your community, visit rfha.org or Rotary.org