Joint Outreach Empowers Reddingsdaad Residents with Hygiene and Health Education
- linettelintvelt
- 12 hours ago
- 3 min read
Safety and basic living essentials remain the foundation of care at community shelters, yet ongoing education on healthy habits proves equally vital—especially for vulnerable and aging residents. Unchain Our Children (UOC) and its partner organizations recently delivered a focused outreach at Reddingsdaad that combined practical guidance, medical insight, and compassionate support.
Regular contact between UOC and Reddingsdaad, strengthened by a social work student completing community work under the UOC umbrella at the facility, highlighted a clear need for education on personal and general hygiene as well as the responsible use of medication.
“Unchain Our Children taught me that social work is beyond theory. Being placed with you helped me build confidence and trust in my decision-making and problem-solving skills. This experience also taught me me the importance of flexibility because everyday was something new. My biggest accomplishment so far was learning how to work confidentiality and respectfully with people from different racial, age, and linguistic background. At first I was aware of the differences between in language and age but with Wayne's and your help, I was able to learn to that such differences are not barriers but diversity and strengths.” Nolubabalo Mgcima - Final Year Social Work Student
Longstanding UOC partner Shekinah 911, recognized for its rapid response, health expertise and heartfelt community care, contributed their time and most valuable service and advanced medic, Morgan Kruger and Sister Babsie engaged directly with the residents.
Speaking at the residents’ level, the pair emphasized everyday cleanliness.
“Keep the skin clean and everything else, like clothes, washcloths and towels, that touches the skin to prevent bacteria and viruses from entering the body through cuts, scrapes or mucous membranes,” Kruger explained. “Maintaining cleanliness will also prevent infection and stop the spread of germs to eyes, nose, mouth or other people.”
Good hygiene, they noted, reduces the risk of gastrointestinal illnesses and respiratory infections.
A lively discussion arose about several issues and the audience interacted with questions, statements and stories. Many residents were unaware of the high caffeine content behind the short-lived energy boost energy drinks are known for. Kruger and Sister Babsie outlined the risks: heart strain, sleep disruption, anxiety, sugar spikes and potential overdose leading to severe palpitations, nausea or hospitalization. The effects of alcohol and smoking on the body were also addressed.
During the visit the Shekinah 911 team identified residents requiring further medical attention and directed them to appropriate hospital care. Kruger and Sister Babsie plan to return for follow-up vital assessments.
Bernice Malan, an Intermediate Life Support operative and volunteer with the Emergency Support Team (EST), addressed responsible medication use. EST is a voluntary network of medically trained individuals and organizations that provides rapid emergency support and collaborates with other services during crises. Malan warned against misuse of over-the-counter products, particularly headache powders combining aspirin, paracetamol and caffeine, which can cause insomnia, ulcers, allergic reactions and damage to the kidneys and liver. Combining paracetamol with alcohol heightens liver risk. She stressed adherence to prescribed dosages and the danger of sharing or using expired medication.
Marie Spang of Christian Action for Dependence (CAD) introduced her organization’s local support networks for individuals and families recovering from substance abuse. CAD combines Bible-based spiritual guidance with practical community care to help people maintain sobriety and reintegrate into society. Spang shared a personal testimony of family members’ struggles with addiction, reinforcing the call to seek help and choose an addiction-free path.
The joint outreach reflected the shared commitment of UOC and its partners: professional advice delivered with genuine empathy and care, aimed at uplifting residents toward healthier, more empowered lives.
Discover & Connect:
Shekinah 911
Emergency Support Team (EST)
CAD
Report Child Exploitation: Call UOC National Crisis Line: 067 323 7116
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