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DENOSA Northern Cape distribute Talking Books in De Aar
DENOSA complementing the NHI project in Pixley ka Seme District, the Pilot Site for the NHI in the province
De Aar in Northern Cape is an area where the rate of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is at its highest in the world, largely due to abuse of alcohol by pregnant mothers among others. Thankfully, the area is in the Pixley ka Seme District, which is one of the country’s National Health Insurance (NHI) pilot sites.
As a result of this abuse of alcohol, children come off as the worst affected by the behaviour of parents. This takes the form of birth defects, stunted growth, mental and physical problems among others. With one component of the NHI being to fix the primary health system, schools health programme is one element that is being looked into as a solution to the challenge.
Through its commitment to fighting non-communicable diseases (NCDs) via it’s NCD project, DENOSA in partnership with International Council of Nurses (ICN), DENOSA is currently embarking on a project where talking books are being distributed in three provinces in primary schools which imparts knowledge about living a healthy lifestyle through embracing the eating of right choice of food as well as embarking on regular exercises.
On 11 April, key representatives from the Department of Health in the Province and district, SADTU as well as principals from the primary schools in De Aar gathered at Zingisani Primary School at Nonzwakazi township where DENOSA leadership in the province officially handed over the Talking Books for primary school children.
DENOSA provincial leadership comprised of Deputy Chairperson Martin Taolo, Provincial Treasurer Gerald Alfred, Provincial Secretary Anthony Vassen, Provincial Organiser Tebogo Koikanyang, Full Time Shop Steward Vincent Phuroe, as well as DENOSA leadership in the Pixley ka Seme District. Guests from DENOSA Head Office included Deputy General Secretary (membership) and National Organiser.
Ms Mvenya from the department’s district coordinator: HIV & AIDS & Life Skills Unit, said the books will assist schools in the schools health programme in the district. Also representing the department was Mr Barth, Chief Education Specialist for Curriculum in the district, as well as Chief Education Specialist, Ms Mdekazi.
DENOSA Deputy General Secretary, Madithapo Masemola, said as part of key players in the development of children, teachers are the gateway to getting the issue of healthy living perfect among children. “You can’t change mind of the child when she says to you as a parent, ‘Mom, my teacher said I should things this way and I should eat this and that.’ That’s how powerful teachers are in the lives of our children.”
As part of the project, a select few children will be identified and assessed at certain intervals to assess the effectiveness of the project in the selected schools, this will be done by DENOSA through recording baseline condition of the selected children before they follow the guidance from the Talking Books.
Madithapo said this will provide proof of the effectiveness of the Talking Books and patek philippe replica watches, as evidence would have been collected, this could carry more weight in influencing the country’s policy towards adopting evidence-based schools health programme going forward.
