Redesigning Healthcare in South Africa: Community Health and Wellness Centre

The Community Health and Wellness Centre is a design that addresses South Africa’s healthcare imbalance, where 80% of resources are allocated to acute medical treatment, leaving only 20% for preventive care (South African Health Review, 2023). This lack of focus on prevention contributes to the rise of chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, responsible for 43% of deaths nationwide.

The research investigation led to the proposal of the CHWC (Community Health and Wellness Centre), which would be located in Silverton Pretoria, as an innovative solution to bridge the gap between treatment and prevention. By integrating preventive wellness-focused services with traditional medical care, the project aims to enhance accessibility, sustainability promote early intervention, and improve overall community health.

The investigation found that the current healthcare facilities, such as Clinics in South Africa, neglected early essential services such as screenings, nutritional counselling, and fitness programs being implemented in the beginning, leading to late-stage diagnoses that strain the healthcare systems and reduce the quality of life for individuals seeking medical attention. The study found that 70% of South Africans relied on traditional healers and unconventional methods (Moeti et al., 2023), and low-income communities struggled to afford or access modern wellness services. Additionally, overcrowded facilities and poorly designed layouts, such as those observed in Tembisa Hospital, create confusion and delays in care.

The proposed Wellness Centre would address these challenges through a holistic design as it mainly focused on preventive care programmes that include free health screenings, fitness classes, nutrition counselling, and inclusivity.

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The Community Health and Wellness Centre Gym

The image is the final rendering of the gym and showcases my design of the gym. The Centre's gym was designed to be both practical and pleasant, creating a refreshing atmosphere. The large open space allows easy movement for users. Indoor plants, geometric ceiling lights, natural colours, and wooden finishes make the area peaceful and relaxing.

Sustainable features such as natural light, biophilic elements (e.g., green walls and wood finishes), and energy-efficient systems create a calming and eco-friendly environment. The building offered multipurpose rooms to provide services such as yoga and health workshops. A sliding-scale fee was initiated to ensure affordability for low-income users.

This is the rendering and showcases my design of the consultation rooms in the Centre, which has a clean, calm finish. The rooms are decorated with soft colours, natural wood touches, and modern furniture to help doctors and patients easily utilize the space.

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This model of the Community Health and Wellness Centre design was influenced by evidence and community needs. Surveys that were provided revealed that 85.7% of respondents prioritize preventive care, with a strong demand for fitness programs (57.1%) and health education (57.1%). Overall, the project aimed to move away from cold, clinical environments and instead create a community-driven, wellness-focused space. The design merged prevention, treatment and cultural respect, which set a standard for healthcare in South Africa.