| From birth to three years, the mother and child attend the clinic’s clinic's Effective Parenting Programme, which provides education and support to close the gap between birth and pre-school. At three years, the child attends pre-school three times a week.
Once in Grade R absenteeism is monitored, and parents become involved in the child’s well-being by attending quarterly community meetings.
The clinic is integral to the well-being of the child. And the clinic’s system of farm visits means that a child’s family and immediate community is also cared for. Three community developers go out on farm visits twice a week after meeting with clinic staff.
“Develop the children,” claims Lesley, “and indirectly you develop the parents.” She greets every person in the clinic waiting room, asking after relatives and admiring babies. As we leave, she explains family histories, provides a context for each person we’ve seen at the clinic. Some follow her to the parked car to talk to her. On average the clinic helps 50 patients on a Wednesday, but it’s not unusual to treat 70 patients in a single day.
“People here are taken from cradle to grave,” Lesley says. And you believe her.
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