Community health

The HCET recognises that the physical health of a community plays a vital role in its wellbeing and development potential. As a result, it manages an extensive health programme for learners at its educational institutions as well as their families and other members of surrounding communities.

Home visits

Health workers visit families in the area to educate them about health, hygiene, and nutrition. Common problems encountered are alcoholism, domestic violence, malnutrition, and child abuse. The field workers provide families with tools and information to deal with these challenges. Among other things, families are encouraged to grow their own vegetables.

Clinic and pharmacy

The clinic and pharmacy provide health care and health education to people on 30 surrounding farms as well as Karoo nomads (‘karretjiemense’) who have settled in the district and are given piece work on farms. The clinic covers a 50-kilometre radius.

The clinic is staffed by two nursing sisters, a pharmacist and two health workers. It is open on one morning a week, and treats about 50 patients a day.

The clinic immunises babies, gives family planning injections, administers pregnancy tests, and prescribes and dispenses scheduled medicines. It also administers rapid HIV tests.

All learners at the Early Learning Centre and school are examined at the clinic once a year, and can visit the clinic once a week. Besides treatment for injuries and illness, all the children at the Trust schools are dewormed twice a year.

HIV / AIDS

The field workers provide HIV/AIDs education as well as pre-test counselling. Tests are performed at the clinic, and if necessary post-test counselling is provided. The clinic procures anti-retrovirals from the state clinic in Colesberg, and the field workers monitor their use.