City Helps Grow Its Future Leaders – Get Them Vaccinated
Health practitioners have observed an alarming trend of parents missing their children’s immunisation appointments, while some lose the immunisation cards commonly known as the road to health cards.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), immunisation prevents in the region of two million deaths each year. It is in line with this that the City reiterates that every day is an immunisation day, and every child must be vaccinated according to the immunisation schedule.
“It is important to get your little ones protected from vaccine-preventable diseases, and the first step is through vaccination. It doesn’t matter whether you lost the road to health card or missed the scheduled date, ultimately a child must be immunised,” said Sister Tembi Mahlangu, Manager Nursing Services at Brackenhurst Clinic in Alberton.
Sister Tembi says children need all the required vaccinations at the right time during their developmental stages. Skipping a stage poses a threat to a child’s development, making them prone to vaccine-preventable diseases.
Vaccines stimulate the body’s immune system, which helps to prevent and protect children from serious illnesses such as polio, hepatitis, measles, meningitis, diphtheria, pneumonias and other life-threatening illnesses that affect children as they grow.
Another important factor raised by health practitioners is that parents of school-going children tend to forget that their little ones need to be immunised when they are aged six and 12 for the compulsory TD (Tetanus and Diphtheria) vaccination.
The Human Papilloma Virus Vaccination (HPV) received by Grade 8 learners helps prevent cervical cancer in girls, and reduces the risk of contracting viral infections that affect both girls and boys in lower body areas such as genital warts, and reduces the risk of anal cancer. The vaccine is given by school health nurses.
Help the City grow its future leaders by ensuring its children are immunised. Parents and guardians can visit Ekurhuleni health facilities Monday and Friday, from 08h00 until 16h00.
The City also offers extended operating hours in selected health facilities to accommodate parents who cannot make it during week days.
Facilities rendering extended operating hours are:
| Operating hours | Facility Name | Customer Care Area |
| 24-Hour Service | Daveyton Main Community Day Centre, KwaThema Community Health Centre, Nokuthela Ngwenya Community Health Centre, Phillip Moyo Community Health Centre, Esangweni Community Health Centre, Ethafeni Midwife Obstetric Unit, Jabulane Dumane Community Health Centre, Phola Park Community Health Centre, Ramokonopi Community Health Centre | Daveyton, KwaThema, Nigel, Etwatwa Tembisa 1, Tembisa 1 ,Vosloorus, Thokoza, Katlehong 2 |
| Saturday Services Sat: 08:00–14:00 | Duduza Clinic & Dental, Dukathole Clinic, Geluksdal Clinic & Dental, Itireleng Clinic (Edenvale), Kempton Park Civic Centre Clinic, Tsakane Clinic, Goba clinic, Dawn Park Clinic, Dresser Clinic, Katlehong North Clinic, Vosloorus Poly Clinic, Wannenburg Clinic | Duduza, Tedstonville, Geluksdal, Tembisa, Kempton Park , Tsakane, Katlehong, Boksburg, Thokoza, Katlehong Clinic, Vosloorus, Germiston |
