Juliaan’s Story
Juliaan’s Story
23-year-old Juliaan lives on Jakkalsvlei farm in Clanwilliam and is preparing to welcome her second baby into the world. Now eight months pregnant with a baby boy, she is grateful for the support she has received from the Pebbles Project Driscoll’s Mobile Health Clinic, which brings essential healthcare services directly to remote farming communities.
For families living in these communities, accessing healthcare can be challenging due to long distances, limited transport and the cost of travelling. The mobile clinic helps bridge this gap by providing health check-ups, preventative care, early intervention and health education closer to where families live and work.
“The mobile clinic has been such a big help for me, especially during my pregnancy,” Juliaan says. “The nurse working in the clinic is very knowledgeable and she helped me to feel prepared for the arrival of my baby.”
The Pebbles Project Maternal Health Initiative supports women from farming communities in the Western Cape to promote healthy pregnancies and includes two workshops delivered throughout pregnancy. The initiative is offered in Stellenbosch through the Pebbles Health Clinic and in Clanwilliam through the Driscoll’s Mobile Health Clinic. Juliaan attended workshops covering important topics such as healthy eating, hygiene, warning signs during pregnancy, the birthing process and the harmful effects of substance use. The nurse also worked through a pregnancy information booklet with her and completed three check-ups to monitor the progress of her pregnancy.
“I was given such great advice,” Juliaan explains. “The nurse tested my cholesterol and it was a little high, so she recommended a healthy eating plan for me to follow. She also advised me to visit the local government clinic.”
The nurse also supported Juliaan in preparing for the arrival of her baby boy, including discussing what she would need to pack for the hospital and how to ensure that she was as prepared and comfortable as possible. “She’s a lovely young woman who takes part wholeheartedly in the initiative,” the nurse shares.
Juliaan also received a Baby Box as part of the Maternal Health Initiative, containing essential items for both mother and baby during the first few months. “I feel very grateful to have received the Baby Box. There are so many things inside the Box that I don’t have to go and buy for myself and my baby boy, so I am very thankful.”
For Juliaan, having the mobile clinic come directly to the farm has made accessing care much easier. “It is so wonderful and convenient for me to have my check-ups and have the mobile clinic come to me on the farm,” Juliaan shares.
As Juliaan looks forward to holding her baby boy for the first time, she can do so knowing that she has had support close to home every step of the way.
*This story captures a period in the beneficiary’s journey during their involvement with Pebbles Project and reflects their circumstances at the time it was written.