South African Military Health Service (SAMHS) celebrations in dedication to Madiba in Kimberly: 16 – 19 July 2012

The SA Military Health Service (SAMHS) is the Arm of Service that is responsible for the well-being of all the soldiers of the South African National Defence Force and this year is celebrating its 33rd year as a single Arm of Service. To commemorate this milestone, the SAMHS will dedicate the week of Monday 16 July 2012 to Thursday 19 July 2012 to Madiba and will provide a free health assessment to all residents in the Kimberley area at the Galeshewe stadium.

The health assessment will include the following:

• Basic vital assessments that will include scanning for hypertension.
• Dental screening.
• HIV Aids rapid tests that are not compulsory and counselling.

These assessments will be done in conjunction with the Department of Health to ensure residents receive the necessary referrals if needed.

SAMHS is also the custodian of animal health in the military. Members of the public are welcome to bring their pets along for a free health assessment and a rabies inoculation.
To assist all the military veterans in the area, we call especially on these heroes of our nation to visit the SAMHS on these days to not only receive the free health assessment but also to register as a veteran. Assistance to do this will be at hand.
For those residents that are interested to attend the free health assessment, various pickup points have been identified from where military busses will transport people to the stadium.

The pick-up points are:

• Route 1: Green Point: Four Way Stop. Bus will start and end there on 08:00, 10:00 and 12:00. The other pickup points along the route are:
• Beacons Field: Caltex garage
• Floors: Clinic
• Colville: Library
• Route 2: Roodepan: Multi-purpose hall Pescodia, Bus will start and end there on 08:00, 10:00 and 12:00. The other pickup points in Roodepan are: Sonny Leon Library and Pescodia Garage. The other pickup points along Route 2 are:
  • Home Lite/ Homevale: Homevale High School,
  • Lerato Park entrance
• Route 3: Galeshewe: Montshiwa Last Stop. Bus will start and end there on 08:00, 10:00 and 12:00. The other pickup points along the route are:
  • Phutanang Bridges
  • Transit Camp Four Way stop
  • Abantu Hall
  • Recreation Hall
  • Witdam Police Station.

The celebrations at the Galeshewe stadium will also include an exhibition by the SAMHS to showcase some of the unique equipment that was used during the 2010 Soccer World Cup as well as demonstrations by the Military Health Training Formation. The dog handlers of SAMHS will also demonstrate during this period.

On Thursday 19 July 2012 at 11h00, the SAMHS will hold a medal parade at the City Hall to honour members for their duties during peacekeeping missions and to commemorate and honour all those SAMHS members that paid the ultimate price in service of our great nation.

Surgeon General of the SA National Defence Force, Lieutenant General Vee-jay Ramlakan will bestow medals to the deserving members.
After the medal parade a battalion soldiers as well as military vehicles of the SAMHS will participate in a drive past through some streets of the city centre to conclude the SAMHS celebrations in Kimberley.

Members of the media are cordially invited to attend the opening ceremony on Monday 16 July 2012 at 11:00 at the Galeshewe stadium as well as the medal parade on Thursday 19 July 2012 at 10:45 at the Kimberley City Hall.

ISSUED BY: Department of Defence
(Media Liaison Section)
Pretoria

ENQUIRIES: Colonel Louis Kirstein
082 444 7334
012 484 4701