- The Kenfac Foot Clinic will be reopening next month after a three-year hiatus.
- The facility, based at the Kensington Old Age Home, was opened 18 years ago and renders an essential service to the elderly.
- Len Adriaans, a foot health practitioner and project manager of the foot clinic, explained that she decided to start the clinic when she saw the need for such a facility.
The Kenfac Foot Clinic will be reopening next month after a three-year hiatus.
The facility, based at the Kensington Old Age Home, was opened 18 years ago and renders an essential service to the elderly.
Len Adriaans, a foot health practitioner and project manager of the foot clinic, explained that she decided to start the clinic when she saw the need for such a facility.
Adriaans obtained a Diploma in Foot Health from the SMAE Institute Berkshire in 2005 after completing a two-year part-time course while working as a nurse at Kings College Hospital in the United Kingdom.
When she returned to South Africa later that year, the then ward councillor for Kensington advertised for volunteers to attend to the feet of the elderly.
“I realised that I was equipped to take up the counsellor’s plea. I was not familiar with the community workers and knew that I had to meet up with the more senior ones to teach me the ropes of my approach and entry into the community.
“I met a few younger women who knew the community well and within a few days, I was introduced to about 10 aspirant foot carers.
“I now had to get these ladies onto my page before attempting to put them through a course of basic foot care.”
She explained that she trained the group and soon the clinic was started.
At the time it was run from the local day hospital. A few years later, it was moved to the Kensington Old Age Home.
However, during the Covid-19 pandemic, it closed due to restrictions.
Adriaans explained that she is delighted that the facility will be reopening the clinic because it is an essential resource for the community.
“People are older, they can’t cut their toenails. People can’t afford a podiatrist. We only charge them R60. We attend to the feet of the elderly but also tend to younger people. We educate people who are diabetic on how they need to care for their feet. We also encourage the elderly to wear supportive shoes.”
According to Adriaans, services offered include examining feet, referrals of diabetic patients, checking blood pressure, and massaging feet among others.
“We have helped many diabetics. We helped a man care for his foot for 11 years before it was amputated.”
Travis Johnson, chairperson of the Home, said thanks to a leading bank they were able to renovate the space.
“It brings us much joy that we can be in the position to support the foot clinic in serving the community.”
Adriaans explains that they need more volunteers.
“We only have one qualified foot carer. Hence only seven to eight clients can be accommodated per day from Mondays to Thursdays by appointment only. Volunteers are sought who are interested and have a passion for rendering foot care to the elderly in the community.”
“Only four candidates will be considered for this intake. The training consists of a theoretical and practical component and the course is three months.”
The interviews will take place on Monday 25 March at the Kensington Old Age Home.
For more information call Len Adriaans on 084 259 0725.
