By MONICA KAYOMBO/ Afric du Sud/ Cape Town
TRAUMA, gang-related violence, and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) stemming from substance abuse remain rampant at Heideveld Community Day Clinic in Cape Town, resulting in increased cases of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD).
Prof. Rene Krause from Heideveld Community day clinic says this development has significantly contributed to COPD cases in the Heideveld area, and the medical staff are overwhelmed, yet remain committed to helping the community.
This was revealed during a recent visit by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General’s Special Envoy for Chronic Respiratory Diseases (CRDs), WHO medical officer Dr Sara Sara Rylance, Global Health freelance journalist Jaqui Thornton and other members of the WHO delegation accompanied by journalist fellows on CRDs.
Prof. Krause made the revelations after the tour of the facility and explained that over the weekend, the clinic attends to many trauma cases related to gang activity in the community, stemming from the sale of drugs, predominantly herione.
“And so a lot of it is related to gang activity, and then some is interpersonal violence related to intoxicating substances,” she explained.
She said GBV cases, including rape, are also rampant, and the facility is also used as a safeguard for most community members.
“If we see a woman here for injury and she might need a place of safety or emergency shelter, as well as counseling on her legal options available, we have a counselor available 24 hours a day at the Tuduzela center,” she said.
She said both women and men with GBV-related cases are given the liberty to seek legal options while still entitled to counseling support and information on available options.
Prof. Krause explained that gang violence often involves gang members, and they also receive cases of innocent people. “The sale of drugs is a complicated factor. The situation is worsening; our ratio has changed. We used to see predominantly stab wounds with occasional gunshot injuries 10 years ago. Now we see much higher rates of gunshot injuries compared to stab wounds,” she said.
Prof. Krause, who has also contributed articles to the African Journal of Emergency Medicine, said the remain resolute in helping the community.
Dr Katya Evans, a staff member at the clinic, explained during a briefing that Heideveld Community day clinic delivers a range of primary healthcare services, including preventative, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care, and collaborates with various Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).
She said their responsibilities and services at the facility include physiotherapy, reducing pain, and training community health workers.
She added that mobility is the best medicine for patients with COPD.
Two community workers at the clinic, Galiena Isaacs and Rene Ackerman, said they face challenges in undertaking their duties because most patients in the community stay on top of flats, and it’s always a challenge to get them downstairs.
Ms. Isaacs, who recently lost her husband to COPD-related causes, said they sometimes struggle to engage families of patients in helping manage the patients.
“While some families are easier to collaborate with, other families are too difficult,” she said.
Shirley Ggamlana-Ndwa, a senior research assistant under the Global Health and Palliative Care project, said they have developed pre- and post-tool kits for pain, stress management, and helping manage breathing for those with challenges.
Evelyn De Villiers, 78, a patient with COPD due to excessive smoking, says she feels more comfortable at the clinic because of the professional manner in which she’s treated. Ms. De Villiers frequently visits the clinic due to recurring chronic respiratory attacks that sometimes require inhalers, among other treatments.
CRDs, including Asthma and COPD, affect half a billion people worldwide. Asthma impacts over 260 million individuals, while COPD is responsible for over 3.5 million deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Despite having more people affected globally, CRDs remain overshadowed in media coverage, receiving less attention than other major health issues.
WHO, in collaboration with PACE University and other major stakeholders, has embarked on a journey to train journalists across the globe to equip them with knowledge and tools to effectively report on CRDs/COPD, thereby raising public awareness and fostering informed dialogue about these often-overlooked health challenges.
COPD patient at Heideveld Community day clinic in Cape Town, Evelyne De Villiers. Picture: by Monica Kayombo
