Day care centres face TB, safety concerns
Etafeni nurses and social workers call for the safety of community healthcare workers.
Image: Phiri Cawe
Health workers at Etafeni Day Care Centre say they are battling tuberculosis (TB) and growing safety concerns as they work in communities across Nyanga.
The non-profit is trying to raise awareness about TB while also tackling the stigma and discrimination faced by those living with the disease, and social workers are urging residents to change how people with TB are treated and supported.
Nurse Bongiwe Matyhila said TB-related issues, including stigma and abuse, remain widespread and impact individuals, families, co-workers, and the broader community.
“Many infected people avoid treatment because of stigma. Some believe that if they recover, their social grants will be taken away. These are just some of the challenges we face in Nyanga,” she said.
She reassured the community that TB is curable and encouraged those affected to seek treatment.
“The main challenge is discrimination, which stems from a lack of understanding about TB. By now, people should know that TB is curable - it only takes six months of treatment. People should not risk their health to keep receiving a social grant. Your health is more important,” she said.
Safety concerns are also affecting healthcare delivery.
Nurse Nikiwe Jamjam said high levels of crime, including shootings and extortion, are making it difficult for staff to carry out home visits in areas such as Crossroads.
She said that crime in the areas they serve directly impacts their work, leading to increased absenteeism and reduced productivity.
“Our workers have experienced significant trauma. Recently, there was a shooting in Crossroads near where they were working. It affected them deeply, and we had to give them time off. One worker has since refused to return due to flashbacks. We appeal to the community to protect our staff. They are there to help,” she said.
The centre emphasised the need for greater community awareness about the role of healthcare workers and the importance of home visits. It warned that if workers continue to face threats such as robbery, vulnerable groups - particularly the elderly and those unable to access healthcare facilities - will suffer.
Etafeni Day Care Centre will host a jamboree, bringing various services to the community on Friday, May 15, at the Zolani Centre.
Meanwhile, the City of Cape Town's Community Services and Health Department recently observed World Immunisation Week from April 24-30.
It came as City Health raised concern over declining immunisation rates across Cape Town.
Mayco member for health, Francine Higham, said between July 2025 and March 2026, City Health administered 294 894 doses of vaccines to children up until the age of 12, compared to 310 786 in the previous comparative period.
The number of fully immunised children under the age of one declined by 3.6%, leaving more children vulnerable to preventable diseases such as measles, diphtheria, polio and pneumonia, the City said.
"We have large groups of children who are under-vaccinated and who are subsequently vulnerable to vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks, especially measles. This is a serious concern that requires all of us to work together," said Higham.