By Palesa Ndinisa
On the 15th of May 2025, Mobile Health Clinics (MHC), partnered with Bayer to expand access to healthcare in TVET colleges. This initiative aims to ensure that the youth, especially students in colleges who are fearful of going to traditional clinics, since access to primary healthcare and sexual reproductive health (SRH) services is often limited or non existent. The initiative discusses the burden of issues like unplanned pregnancy and how young women can furthermore prevent such incidents from occurring.
“Studies show that less than 20% of young people regularly access to health facilities, often due to stigma, or lack of youth-friendly services. In response, Mobile Health Clinics is bringing youth friendly mobile clinics to TVET colleges across Johannesburg, supporting mental health programmes, STI screening, contraception and more in one safe space”, adds Dr. Rosie Ndhlovu, CEO of Mobile Health Clinics Foundation. Ndlhovu also emphasised that this project will help students finish school, guard their future fiercely and most importantly, become better citizens.
With these mobile clinics placed in TVET colleges, students now have free on-site access to professional nurses, dietitians, HIV testing and counselling, STI treatment, pregnancy testing and counselling, nutritional consultations, substance abuse support as well as mental health referrals.
After its existence in 2019, MHC has conducted over 361 000 clinical treatments, 16 000 eye tests, 21 000 dental procedures, and distributed 7 000 prescription glasses in undeserved schools across South Africa.
“We are committed to have a long lasting investment, it’s not only about one activity. We want to bring sustainability and health to South Africa, and TVET colleges. Our collaboration with MHC started more than three years ago, and we hope to have more success in providing healthcare to youths,” uttered Jorge Levinson, Bayer Cluster Head for Pharmaceutical Division, Sub- Saharan Africa. Levinson furthermore added that such an initiative is a testament just how private and public sector can bring into reality.
The event was graced by Benita Sisi, who is the Deputy Principal Registrar at Ekurhuleni East TVET College. Sisi expressed how this project will benefit students by reducing absenteeism thus improving academic performance and encourage a campus fulfilling experience. “It our wish that this partnership will grow to all our six sites of Ekurhuleni East TVET Colleges. We acknowledge the alliance between EEC, Higher Health and Mobile Clinic Foundation,” said Sisi.
“This collaboration with Mobile Health Clinics and Bayer is an example of how we can extend the reach of our national adolescence and youth services in a practical and scalable way,” commented Dr. (Prof) Ramneek Ahluwalia, CEO of Higher Health.
The mobile health subdivisions will rotate between participating colleges, supported by the Department of Health’s district structures and Mobile Health’s Clinic’s team of healthcare professionals.
