The Nellmapius Clinic will now be offering mental health services.
Member of the clinics’ committee Kgomotso Michaeline Malope announced this at the “open day” function of the clinic on Thursday.
“Today we are having an awareness day that we hold every year in October at the clinic and it is all about the services that are offered at the clinic whereby nurses explain to the patients and the community at large about our services,” she said.
“But today the most important aspect of our services is mental health care, because we have too many cases that are related to mental illness,” she explained.
“Though these services will be launched officially at a later stage, the clinic has in actual fact already started offering mental health services and mental health patients coming to this clinic will no longer be transferred to other places but will be treated right here,” she said.
She said the clinic invited different stakeholders to come and explain about mental illness, so that individuals can know if they have such a problem.
“We have many mental illness cases in Nellmapius that have been reported at the clinic, and nurses were taken to workshops to help them learn about mental health,” said Malope.
She pointed out that the “open day” function also highlighted issues like GBV, teenage pregnancy, LGBTQ.
“I want to tell the people of Nellmapius to stop isolating people who have mental illnesses and that they must realise that they (mental patients) are important and that a person with a mental illness can be identified by the depression that affects their minds,” she said.
“People must not bottled-up things but must talk to professionals and get help, and we can offer help here which is available for free,” said Malope.
“If not treated, mental illness can lead to death,” she warned.
Tshwane District Nebtal Health Coordinator Sister Ledwaba said she came to the “open day” function to offer support to the mental health services and also to let the community know about these mental health challenges which can be treated at the clinic.
“We have many cases of mental illnesses that we come across and some of them include a person talking to themselves, not sleeping well and violent behaviour,” explained Ledwaba.
“I want to advice the community to treat mentally ill people with respect as it can affect us all, including us as professional nurses,” she said.
“The community must stop tying up or chaining mentally ill patients but must instead expose them to medical doctors and medicines,” she said.
She advised those who have mental problems to come to the clinic before it is too late and save their lives.
Councillor Kholofelo Khopotso said the Nellmapius clinic every year they host open day, and they engage with patients and public at large about the services they offer at the clinic.
“I’m so happy as a ward councillor that community takevthis kinds of event very seriuosly and community are wiling to learn more about the services offer at the clinic.
I want to encourgage community of Nellmapuis to use these clinic and it is their and it belong to them and it help them to get health care and i’m pleading with commmuniy members to look after it,” said councillor Khopotso.
“I’m so happy to see our ward councillor Khopotso attending the event and encouraging us as the community of Nellmapius and i learn a lot at the clinic.
Our councillor is doing a great work for the community, and she is all over and we will keep her in our prayers,” said gogo Rosina Magomela (79).
Another community member attending the opening day at Nellmapius clinic Godfrey Sekgabelane (50) said the clinic staff told them a lot of information and he will share it with the family and friends.
“I’m happy to see our ward councillor she is everywhere and whenever we call her, she is available for us or sometimes she sent people to help us solve the problems and it was good to see her at the clinic also doing her work and working hard and engaging with the community at the clinic about health issues,” Jonathan Sebata (40).