Organizational Background:
Witkoppen Health and Welfare Centre (Witkoppen) is a South African non-profit organization providing high quality and high impact comprehensive primary healthcare and social welfare services to mostly impoverished residents of informal settlements for over 70 years now. The organization is a registered Non-Profit Company (NPC) with a Section 18A tax exemption status. Witkoppen is also an exempted micro enterprise Level 1 Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment contributor (B-BBEE L1), with a certified beneficiary base of more than 99% black beneficiaries.
We are a trusted partner of the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) for over 25 years. Some of Witkoppen's exceptional achievements in partnership with GDoH include training of nurses to initiate and manage patients on antiretroviral treatment (NIMART), on-the-job training and mentoring of pharmacy assistants and expanded public works programme cadres. Areas serviced by Witkoppen include Diepsloot, Kyasands, and Lion Park informal settlements where unemployment levels exceeds 50% and more than 70% of residents live below poverty line, earning less than R2 500 (US$ 157) a month, while 34% earn no income at all.
The Centre was established in 1946 by three public-spirited nurses in response to the lack of healthcare and welfare facilities in the area, and has since transformed over the years to become a renowned provider of high quality comprehensive healthcare and welfare services to mostly indigent people regardless of nationality, race, gender or creed. We currently serve a population of over 1.3 million residents. Essential services rendered by Witkoppen include but are not limited to HIV and TB screening, counseling, testing, care and treatment, screening and management of chronic medical conditions, mental health, preventative and curative maternal and child health. We also provide psychosocial care and support to over 550 orphans and vulnerable children.
In addition to the main facility situated at 105 William Nicol Drive, Fourways, there are 3 satellite facilities in the informal settlements of Msawawa, Thabo Mbeki and Diepsloot. All our activities rely on donor funding and we are actively seeking new donors to continue providing critical care and support to the needy.