Greetings from SHAWCO health!

SHAWCO Health has had a very valuable, successful and exciting year (2008) with about 500 volunteers seeing over 4500 patients on the SHAWCO mobile clinics. SHAWCO Health has also grown considerably with additions such as Voluntary Testing and Counselling for HIV, Sign language interpretation for the Deaf Community, Waiting room education to patients on health issues and a full range of Health and rehabilitation services. Greatest thanks go to the help and commitment of those UCT students and doctors and other volunteers who have given their time and assisted with the SHAWCO mobile clinics this year! We look forward to 2009 - with the amazing team of students and staff it looks to be another good year for SHAWCO Health!

By volunteering on the clinics the students have had the opportunity to examine, formulate a diagnosis and treat patients as well as teach younger students, with the medical students being under the supervision of a medical practitioner. Student volunteers thus benefit by: being able to enrich their clinical skills, helping poorer people access health care and developing an appreciation of different cultures and life experiences in our city.

International students who have registered at UCT are welcome to attend the clinics. International students who have attended the clinic enjoy the exposure to primary health care and to township life. The clinics also provide a social atmosphere for UCT and international students to mingle and network.

We hope that the website provides you with enough information on how the clinics operate. Should you require any more information or wish to get involved please contact us!

Thank you for your support!

Thandi de Wit
(SHAWCO Health President)