If your child’s Road to Health Clinic Card (also known as the Baby Card, Clinic Card, or Health Card) is lost or destroyed, you can obtain a new one. The new card will be marked as a duplicate, and all the old information will be transferred to it.
What is a Road to Health Clinic Card?
The Road to Health booklet is issued to every new mother in South Africa when her baby is born, regardless of whether the birth takes place in a private or state hospital. If the baby is born elsewhere, such as in a home birth, the card will be provided during the first visit to a clinic, doctor, or hospital. This booklet is essential for tracking your baby’s healthcare needs, recording immunisations, and providing important information for healthcare workers and caregivers.
Steps to Get a Replacement Road to Health Clinic Card
- Visit a Police Station: Go to your nearest police station and obtain a stamped and signed affidavit confirming that your child’s Road to Health booklet was lost, stolen, or destroyed.
- Gather Documents: Collect the following documents:
- The affidavit from the police station.
- Your ID.
- Your child’s birth certificate.
- Visit the Clinic: Take the documents to the clinic where your baby was born or the health facility that has most recently treated your child. If you cannot visit a police station for an affidavit, take your ID and the baby’s birth certificate directly to the clinic or health facility.
- Request a New Card: At the clinic, ask for your child’s medical folder. This folder contains all the information that was in the original Road to Health booklet. Request a new Road to Health booklet and have the clinic staff transfer the information from the folder into the new booklet. Inform them of any new information that needs to be included.
- For Recent Movers: If you have recently moved and your baby or child has not yet attended a clinic in the new area, go to the nearest clinic and provide your ID number. The clinic staff should be able to trace your child’s folder to the last clinic you visited, as each folder is linked to the mother’s ID number.
Digital Access to Immunisation Records
Road to Health Digital App: The South African National Department of Health offers a digital version of the Road to Health booklet. This app allows you to record the growth and immunisations of your baby digitally. It’s a convenient way to keep track of your child’s health records.
Requesting Medical Treatment Without a Card: If your child does not have a clinic card, you can still request medical treatment from a clinic. The absence of the booklet should not prevent your child from receiving necessary medical care.
By following these steps, you can ensure that your child’s health records are accurately maintained and that you have a new Road to Health Clinic Card to continue tracking their healthcare needs.