Titled 'Your Health, Your Choice, Your Power,' the programme brings confidential, youth-friendly healthcare services directly to campus, a move aimed at bridging the healthcare gap for students navigating early adulthood, reproductive decision-making and new academic and social pressures, says MHC. 

Designed to reach thousands of students in underserved communities, this new phase targets tertiary education institutions where access to primary healthcare and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services is often limited or non-existent. With mobile clinics stationed at participating campuses, students now have on-site access to professional nurses, HIV counsellors, dietitians and other specialists trained in adolescent and youth-friendly care, adds the organisation. 

MHC says that services include contraception information and advice, STI screening and treatment, pregnancy counselling, HIV testing, nutrition consultations, mental health referrals and substance abuse support — all provided free of charge in a judgment-free environment.

"We've seen first-hand how access to basic healthcare can change a young person's trajectory, not just in school, but in life," says Dr Rosy Ndhlovu, Vice Chair and Founding Member of Mobile Health Clinics. "This new campus-based phase is about continuity: meeting young people where they are, ensuring that our services grow with them and making sure that healthcare is not something they have to fight for, fear, or navigate alone. It should be a given."

The programme is also a direct response to national data that reflects the urgency of such interventions. According to the District Health barometer, an average of 365 teenage girls give birth every day in South Africa, with some reports indicating that some mothers are as young as 10 years old. Many of them drop out of school and never re-enter the education system. These figures highlight the critical need for accessible reproductive health services, particularly in communities where public health infrastructure is overstretched.

"Our work at Bayer is rooted in removing barriers to access to life-saving medication, and healthcare access remains one of the most urgent challenges for young people today, especially young women," says Jorge Levinson, Bayer Cluster Head for Pharmaceutical Division, Sub-Saharan Africa. "Through this programme, we are not only empowering students with information and services, but we are also contributing to our global commitment to enable 100 million women and girls to access modern contraception information and services by 2030. Everyone deserves the chance to make informed decisions about their future."

Representing Higher Health, CEO Dr (Prof) Ramneek Ahluwalia, says, "This collaboration with Mobile Health Clinics and Bayer is an example of how we can extend the reach of our national adolescent and youth health services in a practical and scalable way. Bringing healthcare directly to students helps eliminate some of the biggest access barriers, such as cost, transport and stigma. Most importantly, it ensures that no young person is left behind when it comes to their health and well-being."

The mobile health units will rotate across participating colleges, supported by the Department of Health's district structures and MHC's team of healthcare professionals. In addition to clinical services, MHC says students will benefit from ongoing health education, peer engagement and career-aligned workshops hosted on campus, tailored to their specific age group and life stage.

MHC concludes that 'Your Health, Your Choice, Your Power' is more than a slogan, it's a message to students that they are seen, heard and supported. This programme represents a growing movement to prioritise young people's health as the foundation for stronger, more equitable communities.

For further information, visit www.mobilehealthclinics.org.za. You can also follow MHC on LinkedIn or on Instagram. 

*Image courtesy of contributor