DSE News Network
Gem Meg Education and Training Centre has expanded it’s healthcare portfolio by establishing a clinic at Power House Bus Station in Johannesburg – providing free basic health screening to the public.
CEO for Gen Meg Group Butholezwe Nyathi told the DSE News Network this week that Gem Meg had identified a growing need for healthcare and medical services among communities, and the establishment of the free clinic would benefit the public to access the most basic to intermediate health screening.
“Look – we are not charging anyone to sign up and check your weight. You simply get onto the scale, we weigh you, and tell you how much you weigh. We check your blood pressure, and we measure your height. It’s all free, and there’s absolutely no charge for giving you basic information about yourself.
“But if you know those three things – then that is a pathway to beginning to understand your general health condition. You’ll be surprised at how many people do not know their blood pressure or their own height, or weight.
“It is the basics that matter if you are to manage your health, and that is where we are starting with everyone – for free,” said Nyathi
He added that the location of the free health checks – on the third floor of Power House – had not only been influenced by the location of the bus station, but also the fact that it is located at a busy cross-border bus rank in the inner city.
Thousands of travellers use Power House every week – going – or coming from African destinations in SADC.
“Our primary focus is to assist the community – in primary healthcare. We talk to the people about basic health – like cleanliness, and we aim to spread awareness for acute illnesses and chronic disease management etc. That’s why we are distributing things like condoms for instance.
“In addition to basic screening, we are conducting referrals, and we act as the first point for random injuries and things like first aid and stabilising patients.
“We attend to pregnant women and we offer child health services. You’ll be surprised at how many people are walking with illnesses, but they never bother to go to the clinic. With this roll out, we are taking the clinic to Power House, which is right where the people are,” said Nyathi.
Power House Clinic is registered with the Gauteng Health Department and apart from primary healthcare, the clinic aims to expand its offering of healthcare to digital services in tele-scripting and tele-consultation.
Immediate plans are to incorporate a health shop and pharmacy with the clinic at Power House, and to expand the Gem Meg Group Of Clinics into a nationwide healthcare brand.
Nyathi said that previously people (the public) had to travel to hospitals and clinics in order to access healthcare and screening services, but with the roll-out of the Gem Meg HealthCare Services, the medical services are infact going to where the people are.
Gem Meg Group is a diversified education and training centre, specialising in training healthcare workers, personal care workers, health and safety workers, first aid responders and social auxiliary workers.
The company also runs a Grade R to Grade 10 school in Johannesburg, and also specialises in trade and investment.
