A Passion For Life
Y Care Raises NCD Awareness through Community Action
Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) are on the rise in sub-Saharan Africa. This is according to a recently published article by the World Health Organisation (WHO), were stats were recorded at 37% of deaths being caused by NCDs, the most common of which are diabetes, various cancers as well as cardiovascular diseases. The reason for this increase is centered on prevention, diagnosis and care showing critical gaps within the health care systems.
In Botswana, Modise Koofhethile founded Y Care in response to this long-standing challenge to his community. He combined his passion for marathon running and a healthy lifestyle with a vision to support outlying communities and villages throughout Botswana, through education and screening for NCDs.
Y Care started from an inspiring dream to walk across the Makgadikgadi Pans to raise funds for charity in 2003. Since then it has grown into a registered non-profit entity with walks to raise funds and awareness, as well as screenings for NCDs. Throughout these screenings, those who diagnosed or need further testing are referred to a healthcare centre for professional help.
In aid of awareness and fundraising, Y Care organises sponsored walks (“providing extraordinary experiences in unique environments to fulfill the needs of our communities”) for large groups in order to participate in the screenings that take place from village to village in areas such as the Makgadikgadi Pans – participants joining through running, walking or cycling. This offers great opportunity for corporate team building, networking and such programmes – through a unique, unforgettable experience that benefits those in need.
In recognizing the importance of ensuring that the youth are particularly empowered in addressing NCDs, Y Care has a Youth Leadership Programme that works with a collective of youth volunteers, ambassadors and coordinators who are directly or indirectly affected by the NCDs. Thus, not only giving them an opportunity to acquire work skills, but also contribute to society through their work with Y Care.
Y Care is an inspiring take on how we can always do something to help those around us – and particularly when we work together as a community to do so, we can tackle NCDs in our own communities, in our own way.
For more information, you can visit their website and to participate or support these activities, you can register here and will be contacted by Y Care with more information.
