CACADU- Residents of remote Papasi village in Emalahleni received access to a range of healthcare services, medication and career guidance when the Gcinabantu Hutchison Ngcukayitobi Foundation (GNF) hosted its annual Lupapasi Outreach at Papasi Primary School on Saturday, October 10.
The outreach, held under the theme ‘Healthy Communities, Brighter Futures’, brought together healthcare professionals, government departments, educational institutions and community organisations to provide services to residents who have limited access to nearby healthcare facilities.
Lupapasi, which is situated far from essential government services and has no nearby clinic was the focus of the initiative aimed at bringing primary healthcare directly to the community.
Services offered included Pap smear screenings, TB and HIV testing, the diagnosis and treatment of minor ailments, medication, health education and awareness programmes.
The programme also extended beyond healthcare, with career guidance for learners and mentorship initiatives focused on boys and men.The outreach was organised in partnership with Black Hawk, Link Pharmacy and New Generation, with support from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the departments of Social Development, Education and Health, iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu, Ingwe, Age in Action and TB/HIV Care.
Dr Mawande Dlamini, a medical officer in internal medicine at Frontier Hospital was among the doctors deployed from surrounding hospitals through the Emalahleni Department of Health.
Dlamini said working with residents and seeing their appreciation for the services made the experience worthwhile.
“We worked very well with people today. They are very nice and appreciative. We thank \[the organisers for\] the opportunity to come and help where possible. We are hoping for more,” he said.
He said the outreach also gave healthcare professionals an opportunity to identify health concerns among residents who might otherwise struggle to access medical attention.
“The day was a success to give back to society, especially where there is a need. That’s fulfilling. Even identifying what we have found was very fulfilling,” Dlamini said.
Healthcare worker Thami Katiya said Lupapasi was selected because of its distance from healthcare facilities and other government services.
“We are here to offer health services together with the Gcinabantu Foundation. Papasi is far away from people’s eyes and government services. We are happy to reach them and deliver services to them because they don’t have clinics; they are far from clinics,” Katiya said.
She said the team was committed to providing care to residents across all age groups.“We have every health service, starting from healing the child to the oldest people in the village,” she said.
Furthmore, GNF chairperson Brenda Ngcukayitobi said the turnout demonstrated the community’s need for practical services, adding that the foundation had delivered on its commitment to bring healthcare, career guidance and mentorship opportunities closer to residents.
“Our promise of outreach that will offer practical services, career guidance, boy and man health, we have carried them well. For now, residents of Papasi are here consulting with our doctors, also getting their medications,” she said.
Ngcukayitobi credited the Emalahleni Department of Health for helping to make the outreach possible by providing doctors from surrounding hospitals.
“We were helped more especially by the Department of Health of Emalahleni, by offering doctors from surrounding hospitals. This was a success, people came in numbers and were very receptive of this help,” she said.
The programme also focused on education and future opportunities for local learners.
Ngcukayitobi thanked iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu for providing career vguidance and said academic staff had offered advice and motivation to learners in Grades 10 to 12 as they considered their options after school.
“We also thank iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu for career guidance and all the academic doctors who gave tips and motivation to children doing Grade 10-12. As for now they are busy applying and checking their statuses,” she said.
The outreach brought together children, young people, adults and elderly residents, giving community members an opportunity to access healthcare services and information closer to home.
For Lupapasi residents, the initiative provided a practical response to the challenges posed by distance from healthcare facilities, while also opening conversations about education, mentorship and future opportunities.The foundation’s message remained at the heart of the initiative: healthy communities build stronger futures.
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