Rufus Moagi: A Health Advocate in South Africa
Posted on by rotaryservice
A conversation between the Rotary Action Group for Family Health & AIDS Prevention and Rufus Moagi, a member of the Rotary E-Club of District 9400
Meet Rufus Moagi, a Rotarian who is working relentlessly to ensure that the people of the Tembisa township in Gauteng, South Africa live healthy lives — and he does so without a second thought. The Rotary Action Group for Family Health & AIDS Prevention calls Rufus Moagi a hero.
For the past 10 years, Rufus has been tirelessly advocating for the right to a healthy life for the people of Tembisa, connecting them with Rotary Family Health Days services — the Rotary Action Group for Family Health & AIDS Prevention’s signature program — to ensure that free health services are accessible to each and every individual. “I have benefited emotionally more than I have given. That is the beauty of working with an organization like Rotary,” he says.
A Day at the Rotary Family Health Days Site
Describing the buzz at the Family Health Days, Rufus says, “I have a truck and a bakkie (pickup truck), so I carry all the tents, banners, and posters, and help set up everything at the site. I travel a lot with Sue Paget, CEO of Rotary Action Group for Family Health & AIDS Prevention, and I have seen her go above and beyond to make sure help reaches the people in need.”
Rufus explains that Health Days are emotional events. In some provinces, people struggle to get proper healthcare, and diseases like HIV and TB go undetected. “We go out in the local areas, talk to people, convince them to come and avail of the free health check-ups. Sometimes, we also reach out to the older people who cannot travel to the sites and ensure that they receive the health services they need.”
Working Relentlessly
For these health heroes, the day starts with setting up at the site as early as 4 a.m., and they’re often still serving the community late into the evening. “We are the first ones to arrive at the site and the last ones to leave — but it is all worth it when you serve a large community of people who, otherwise have no access to even basic healthcare. My heart goes out to these people, and I wish the government could do more for them. They all deserve to live a healthy life, and they must not struggle with that,” Rufus says.
Rufus not only helps with the site set-up and banner printing, but you might also spot him wandering around the local areas with a loudspeaker in his hands, educating people about the importance of the Rotary Family Health Day program. “People must be made aware of the importance of such initiatives.”
A Small Step Makes a Big Difference
Sharing an incident that was particularly heart-warming, Rufus says, “You meet so many people at these events, hear so many stories, learn about their struggles, and it moves you. I remember meeting two girls who worked as sex workers. I listened to their stories, talked to them, and finally convinced them to come for a free screening for HIV and other diseases. They turned up on the next Health Day, and I was happy. What really touched my heart was when I received a call from one of the girls a few days after, and she informed me that she found a job and had also enrolled in a course. I have no words to describe how I felt that day. The girl calls me once in a while and shares her progress in her job and studies. That is fulfilling,” he says with pride.
Back To School
Apart from his work with his Rotary club, Rufus is also actively helping the kids in his community start school. Rufus provides stationery and uniforms from his shop and encourages local children to get a proper education.
Watching someone find the light at the end of the tunnel is an indescribable feeling. Thanks to his tireless work with his Rotary club and his impact on his local community, Rufus benefits from this rewarding feeling every day. “I am a happy man. I have four children and two beautiful grandkids. They are sitting next to me as I am doing this interview. I’m a 52-year-old ‘young’ grandfather,” he signs off, with a chuckle.
Help Us Do More
Rotary Action Group for Family Health & AIDS Prevention envisions a society where everyone has the right to a healthy, happy, and dignified life. It is changing communities by bringing free preventative healthcare solutions, vaccinations, counseling, and health education to them. Through its signature program, Rotary Family Health Day, Rotary Action Group for Family Health & AIDS Prevention has helped over 2.65 million patients by providing over 11 million free health services.
Feeling inspired and want to be a part of this change? Get in touch today by visiting rfha.org or connect with Sue Paget, CEO of Rotary Action Group for Family & AIDS Prevention Inc, by telephone at +27 (0) 83 456 3923 or email at spaget@rfha.org.
