ArcelorMittal South Africa donates R13m Sebokeng Wellness Centre to the Sebokeng Community and the Gauteng Department of Health.

On 1 November 2013 ArcelorMittal South Africa officially handed over a R13 million state-of the- art Reamohetse Wellness Centre at Sebokeng Hospital, in a ceremony attended by the MEC for Health, Mr Hope Papo and the hospital’s management and other senior dignitaries from ArcelorMittal and the local community.

The project is a partnership between the ArcelorMittal South Africa Foundation and the Gauteng Department of Health. With the capacity to treat approximately 279 patients daily, 1395 patients weekly, 5580 patients monthly and 66960 per annum, the wellness centre will address the lack of adequate healthcare facilities for the disadvantaged communities residing in the Vaal Triangle. The MEC for Health, Mr Hope Papo  said that the wellness centre will also fulfil a significant role in meeting the growing demand for healthcare in South Africa due to an increasing population and significant burden of disease due to HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB). It will also fulfil a pivotal role in meeting the South African National Aids Council (SANAC) mandate to have three million people receiving antiretroviral (ARV) treatment by 2015.

The high quality wellness centre took 12 months to complete, created employment opportunities and provided training for 36 local community members from local contractor Mthembu-Mvelase Civil Projects on the installation of Arval panels and roofing.

The wellness centre is equipped with the latest technological equipment and qualified medical professionals such as nurses, social workers, health promoters and counsellors who will provide much needed professional and personal element. The facility will provide accessible integrated HIV and TB medical treatment and care, disease management advice, social, psychological and peer support services. Further health services include advice for dietary plans, Voluntary Counselling and Testing for HIV and TB , implementing educational awareness campaigns on HIV/AIDS as well as TB prevention and management strategies for the community of Sebokeng and surrounding areas.

Additional medical services available at the wellness centre include PAP smear examinations for women, male medical circumcisions, TB screening, HIV Counselling and Treatment, the treatment of hypertension and Diabetes, and referrals to local clinics for DOT support.