Clinic provides health services to youth

Stakeholders like the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, the Kwa-Thema Library and the Thabang Xaba Foundation supported the launch. The Springs Field Band, also known as Landolusha, provided endless entertainment.

Soul City Institute programmes officer Nondumiso Kheswa said they partnered with the clinic in line with the programme mandate launched by the National Department of Health. 

“The AYFS is an important model to support young people’s access to health services. Our role is to strengthen the clinic staff’s capacity to implement youth-friendly services, with a focus on the treatment and services they will receive from the professionals at the clinic, meaning when they receive the service they have to come to a friendly service from the security guard welcoming them with a smile, to how they pass the cleaners and the reception,” she explained.

Kheswa mentioned the model integrates the AYFS in a manner that enables learners to get school consent to attend the clinic.

“If you’re a young person and you’re sick or need to go to the clinic, you shall not go to the primary healthcare nurse.

“We have identified several recesses why young people do not visit healthcare services. One was stigma and judgement. We want to end that,” mentioned Kheswa.

Clinic operational manager Teboho Mabena said the clinic was also about encouraging teens to go to the clinic.

“We are also aware of the vast services we provide in clinics.

Many learners attend school while sick, but they are given consent forms at school for their parents or guardian to sign, allowing them to visit the clinic.

“The forms are often never returned, and the children do not receive the medical attention they require. We urge parents to encourage their children to visit healthcare centres,” she said.

She highlighted a gap in teenage pregnancy among teens in the clinic segment, not knowing that they were allowed to arrive in their uniforms or were sexually transmitted disease.

“They come to the clinic in need of service, unaware of what to bring, what requirements they have to stick to, and unaware of their basic care,” she explained.

Mabena said the clinic offers:

• General healthcare – diagnosis, treatment for other illnesses, and treatment of conditions like asthma, TB, diabetes, etc.
• Adolescent-friendly services which target teenagers and support access to information. These services include mental health support, information and counselling for youth living with HIV, or youth that are pregnant or disabled.
• Reproductive health services including STI testing and treatment, family planning (including pills and injectables), pregnancy testing and counselling, safe abortion information and referrals (when legal), STI screening, treatment and education, HIV testing, counselling, and treatment (if needed).
• Mental health support: Basic psychological assessments, individual counselling for stress, depression, anxiety and trauma and referrals to social workers and psychologists.
• Health education and life skills: Peer education programmes, information on puberty, relationships, sexuality, substance abuse prevention and awareness.

Clinic nurses manage chronic illnesses like hypertension and conditions like diabetes, asthma, and epilepsy.

“All youth-friendly services are available and you just go directly to the nurses and tell them your need and your right to confidential and youth-led health access,” concluded Mabena.

By Nomsa Ngubeni
Originally published on page 4 of the Springs African reporter
https://www.citizen.co.za/african-reporter/epapers/african-reporter-11-july-2025/#book/5