Bishop Lavis

Miriam Roelofse (HOPE Community Health Worker)

Miriam Roelofse has been employed by HOPE Association since 2005. She brings a strong health background with home based are and TB courses as well as professional skills as a clinic volunteer besides the training courses offered by HOPE. Her interpretation skills in English and Afrikaans are very usefull in the clinic working day. Miriam was born and went to school in Cape Town.  Besides her work as a TB Counceler and the many tasks in the TB room, Miriam assists with admin and running the reception area.  After the work day Miriam is still busy with her work for HOPE.  Well known in her community residents in the streets many stop her and ask her questions about TB and HIV or come to her home.  After-hours, she is a treatment supporter for TB care.

Bishop Lavis Clinic

The Bishop Lavis clinic is a city clinic. Medical assistance at the clinic is available from Monday to Friday to approximately 200 patients. These clients are treated and counceled in 12 rooms.  The clinic employs 9 nursing sisters and a part-time TB doctor (twice a month).  Despite the large amount of clients a day, the waiting time is short.  The most common illnesses in this community are TB and HIV.  Everyday about 5-15 clients are tested for HIV with a few positive results.

Bishop Lavis Community

Today the population of Bishop Lavis is estimated to be 45,000 inhabitants. Predominantly coloured (96%), Afrikaans is the predominat language (90%), followed by English (9%).  Most of the dwellings are houses or brick structures with a yard (70%) and have private electricity and water supply. Most residents are from Cape Town or the surrounding area in the Western Cape Province.  Bishop Lavis has 2 high schools and 7 primary schools. Some of the schools are in danger of being closed due to reduced attendance (about 10% of the youth are school leavers).  In contrast, those who attend school are willing to finish including pregnant teenagers.  More than 50% of the employed people in Bishop Lavis earn less that R 1,600/month.  The other 43% earn up to R 6,400/month. Besides unemployment Bishop Lavis has to deal with other issues including poverty and squatter camps.

Statistics: City of Cape Town Census 2001 at http://www.capetown.gov.za/censusinfo/Census2001

Miriam

with patient

clinic