Elsies River

Melinda Onverwacht (HOPE Community Health Worker)

Melinda Onverwacht was born in her home community of Elsies River.  She comes to HOPE with a strong desire to work in the colored community and try to bring light to the false assumption that HIV is only a black disease.  She is very dedicated to her work with experience in computer training, drug and alcohol abuse prevention, and training as a family planning advisor. With her language skills with English, Afrikaans and Xhosa, she is a key component in the clinic, translating for nurses and doctors, counseling HIV and TB patients, speaking about basic health, HIV, STIs and TB, visiting homes of sick TB and HIV/AIDS clients, as well as networking with other NGOs in the area.

Working for HOPE Association since September 2002, she is also very active in the community as an organizer of a youth group, her work with the Elsies River Advice Office, her position on the management of the parliamentary constituency of Elsies River, and as Vice Chair for the ANC party in her area. She is well respected and known in her community, constantly being asked questions about HIV/AIDS at her home and in the streets.

Elsies River Clinic

There are two clinics in Elsies River, one open 5 days a week, and one only open 2 days a week offering the same services.  Due to lack of personnel and funding, both clinics cannot operate full time.  A doctor visits once a week for TB clients only.  The main services Elsies River Clinic offers are family planning, HIV and TB testing and counseling, postnatal care, and basic health.  About 85-90 people are tested for HIV per month, with about 5 per month testing positive.    

Though relatively few people test positive for HIV in Elsies River, TB, STIs and teenage pregnancy are very common in the area.  With about 75 clients passing through the five days a week clinic and up to 200 clients per day attending the clinic open two days a week, the clinics utilize other NGOs.

Elsies River Community

Elsies River is a well-developed colored community (92%), with most of its inhabitants born in the Elsies River area.  The community is unofficially divided into sections based on economic status.  Social issues include crime, gangsterism, prostitution, and drug and alcohol abuse, particularly in the poorer sections.  The population is approximately 40,000 residents among which 34% are unemployed.  Wages are low with the majority in the income range from R0–1,600/month.  Although the community has 14 primary schools and 6 high schools, problems with drug addiction, prostitution and alcohol reduce the high school graduation rate.  

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

clinic tract

sign

Melinda