SHAWCO Health Division

SHAWCO Health is a dedicated team of compassionate volunteer students and professionals committed to making quality healthcare accessible to underserved communities in Cape Town, South Africa.

For over eight decades, we have been on the frontlines, providing essential medical services, health education, and support to those who need it most. Our mobile clinics, staffed by enthusiastic health science students and experienced healthcare providers, reach deep into communities to deliver vital care. We believe in the power of education, prevention, and compassionate care to transform lives and foster healthier, more resilient communities. 

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SHAWCO Health Projects 

Despite various challenges emanating from the pandemic and a tough financial landscape, we were able to achieve all the goals we set out for 2022. This year (2022), like many other societies, SHAWCO Health faced many challenges not only due to the Pandemic but also due to financial constraints. Despite these challenges, we could achieve the goals we had set out for the year. The achievements we are most proud of include the following:

 

Our Community Initiatives/Programmes:

SHAWCO Health operates a range of impactful programmes and initiatives. Our flagship initiative is our mobile clinics, which offer free healthcare services, including general medical consultations, dental care, and maternal and child health support. We also run health promotion workshops to educate communities on vital health topics, such as HIV prevention, nutrition, and mental health. Through these programmes and initiatives, SHAWCO Health is not only bridging healthcare gaps but also empowering communities to take charge of their own health and well-being.

Mobile Clinics | Shawco Health

Mobile Clinics:

Our dedicated volunteers and collaborations have enabled us to run successful clinics serving around 60 patients monthly, addressing various medical needs, including the Doctor Drive, Burns Project, and partnerships with health professionals for weekday clinics.

Women's Health:

Through Mum and Baby clinics, we provide treatment and perform smear tests while streamlining the screening process. Collaborations with the Cora Project and Angel Community Outreach educate women on topics like menstruation and sexual health.

Paediatrics:

Our paediatric clinics offer essential health services and engage in health promotion activities. We have successfully conducted clinics, integrated Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, and participated in conferences on climate crisis and child health.

Health Promotion:

Our initiatives include monthly recipes, sex talks, hypertension awareness talks, mental health talks, and collaborations with organisations like Periods of Hope, aiming to raise awareness and empower individuals to make informed health decisions.

Health and Rehab:

Our health and rehab disciplines, such as physiotherapy, audiology, and speech therapy, provide specialised care, engage in health promotion activities, and focus on effective communication, supervision, and resource development.

Marjorie McIntosh Mother & Baby Clinics

McIntosh Mom & Baby Clinics, a collaboration between our Women’s Health and Pediatrics teams, to provide even more comprehensive care to the communities we serve.
SHAWCO EDUCATION 

Violence Prevention & Mentorship

SHAWCO Education's Mentorship and Mental Health Project have been one of our most fulfilling projects. We worked with several schools, namely Bulumko High School and Itlanganiso Secondary (both based in Khayelitsha); Kensington High School and worked with Imkava Youth, an organisation aimed at serving and supporting young people based in Gugulethu.

 

Mobile Clinics & Paediatrics

  • Our clinics serve approximately 60 patients monthly, addressing various medical needs and providing essential health services to the community
  • Additionally, our paediatric clinics offer specialised care for children, integrating Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy.
  • Notable initiatives include the Doctor Drive, Burns Project, and partnerships with health professionals for weekday clinics.
  • We continually improve based on volunteer feedback and actively participate in conferences to stay updated and contribute to healthcare discussions.
2

Mobile Clinics

3

Locations Served

6

Number of Planned Clinics

74

Student Volunteers

296

Paediatric Patients Treated this Year

Womens Health

  • Our clinics serve approximately 60 patients monthly, addressing various medical needs and providing essential health services to the community
  • Additionally, our paediatric clinics offer specialized care for children, integrating Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy.
  • Notable initiatives include the Doctor Drive, Burns Project, and partnerships with health professionals for weekday clinics.
  • We continually improve based on volunteer feedback and actively participate in conferences to stay updated and contribute to healthcare discussions.
2

Mobile Clinics

3

Locations Served

6

Number of Planned Clinics

15

Student Volunteers

180

Patients Seen this Year

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Empowering Change

SHAWCO is dedicated to creating a positive impact in underserved communities, and we are committed to achieving even greater results in 2023. 

Your support can amplify this change

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Health, Rehab & Pharmacy

  • Our clinics serve approximately 60 patients monthly, addressing various medical needs and providing essential health services to the community
  • Additionally, our paediatric clinics offer specialized care for children, integrating Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy.
  • Notable initiatives include the Doctor Drive, Burns Project, and partnerships with health professionals for weekday clinics.
  • We continually improve based on volunteer feedback and actively participate in conferences to stay updated and contribute to healthcare discussions.
7

Locations Served

60

Number of Planned Clinics

15

Student Volunteers

14

Average Number of Patients per Clinic

840

Patients Seen this Year

Health Promotion

  • Our Health Promotion initiatives aim to raise awareness and empower individuals to make informed decisions about their health.
  • We provide monthly recipes, sex talks, hypertension awareness talks, mental health talks, and collaborate with organisations like Periods of Hope.
  • Through these initiatives, we promote holistic well-being and encourage individuals to take proactive steps towards maintaining good health.
  • The team also focus on FHS students in general, on campus, and has run mental health awareness workshops and a large ZUMBA class to encourage positive coping mechanisms
Health Promotion Shawco
7

Locations Served

82

Number of Planned Clinics

12

Student Volunteers

2460

Patients Seen This Year

100

Children Impacted Yearly

Marjorie McIntosh Mother & Baby

  • The Marjorie McIntosh Mom & Baby Clinics emerged as a collaborative initiative by the Women's Health and Pediatrics teams.
  • Their joint efforts established a Mom and Baby Clinic, securing funding for an additional five-year period, now named in honour of Marjorie McIntosh.
  • This initiative's success was marked by the integration of Women’s Health and SWEAT, prioritizing minority health. Further partnerships with Periods of Hope, MamaFlo, and Cora continued this impactful journey.
2

Mobile Clinics

3

Locations Served

10

Number of Planned Clinics

141

Student Volunteers

114

Paediatric Patients Treated this Year

SHAWCO EDUCATION 

Digital Literacy Programme

Our Digital Literacy Programme aims to promote computer literacy and equip young people with skills in an attempt to narrow the digital divide in South Africa.

SHAWCO EDUCATION 

Sisterhood United

The Sisterhood United initiative seeks to address social ills prevalent within society by supporting, empowering, and educating young girls to help them reach the highest version of themselves. The project is centred around womanhood in terms of envisioning young women taking autonomy and having confidence in themselves whilst instilling power in our young women of South Africa who reside in marginalised communities.

SHAWCO EDUCATION 

Afterschool Online Learning Project (AOLP)

AOLP sessions ran on Friday afternoons at Intlanganiso, Bulumko and Kensington High Schools, respectively. Our final session took place on Friday, 16 September 2022.

SHAWCO EDUCATION

Read Today Lead Tomorrow

This project aimed to promote and encourage the love of reading amongst high school learners through the FUNDZA Literacy Trust content to address reading culture in South Africa.

SHAWCO 

SHAWCO Law

SHAWCO Law had a very successful year. Through this sub-branch of SHAWCO Education, we ran 28 sessions at Bulumko Secondary School and The Leadership College respectfully.

Download the SHAWCO EDUCATION 2022 AGM Report Here
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Making a difference

SHAWCO strives to make a difference for communities in need and promises to achieve more in 2023. 

This impact can be greater with your support. 

DONATE NOW