Partnerships Bring Vital Family Healthcare Closer Home

Access to healthcare remains one of South Africa’s most pressing public health challenges, particularly for families in rural and low-income communities. Long travel distances, overburdened clinics, and limited screening opportunities often mean that preventable or manageable conditions go undetected until they become severe.

To address these gaps, Bonitas Medical Fund recently joined forces with key partners to host a Family Health Day at Elukwatini Stadium in Mpumalanga on 30 October 2025. The initiative, supported by the Gift of the Givers Foundation, the Rotary Action Group for Family Health & AIDS Prevention (RFHA) and the Department of Health, formed part of the national Close the Gap campaign, which seeks to place one million additional people on antiretroviral therapy by December 2025.

“Our goal is to take healthcare to where people are,” said Dr Themba Hadebe, Clinical Executive at Bonitas Medical Fund. “When families have easy access to screening and counselling, they’re more likely to seek help early and prevent health issues from becoming life-threatening.”

The Family Health Day offered an integrated package of free services, including HIV testing and counselling, TB screening, diabetes and vital-signs checks, STI testing, and immunisations. Additional services such as optometry and audiology screening, dental care, mental health support, and menstrual health education were provided through Gift of the Givers.

Dr Hadebe emphasised that clustering multiple services in one place helps reduce three major barriers to healthcare — cost, travel distance, and fragmented service delivery. “Families were able to have several checks done in a single visit, making it easier to access comprehensive care,” he added.

Studies have shown that access to healthcare among low-income households is often determined by proximity, affordability, and quality of facilities. Vision, hearing, and dental issues are frequently left untreated as people prioritise survival needs. By offering these services directly to communities, initiatives like this help restore dignity and promote early intervention.

The Mpumalanga Family Health Day also contributed to national health priorities by expanding testing, treatment referrals, and education, while addressing the broader determinants of family well-being — including mental and oral health.

“Good health begins with access,” Hadebe concluded. “When the public and private sectors work together, we can close the gap and give families the care they need to live healthier, more productive lives.”