The train that brings hope and healing to the community, the Transnet-Phelophepa, is back in town. The coach containing health clinics arrived in Mbombela on May 8 and will leave on Friday May 19.
It conducts screenings for dental services, eye examinations, diabetes, cancer, Covid-19, HIV/Aids, hypertension, with Pap smears for women and prostate checks for men, and it also provides counselling. The screening itself is backed by a comprehensive programme of education and outreach.
According to Dr Thabiso Manamela, the acting train manager, the Phelophepa programme welcomes everyone onto the train.
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“The kind of services we are providing is the health clinic, eye clinic, dental clinic, psychology services and our own on-board pharmacy, from which we give our patients prescription medication. We have been experiencing a huge influx of patients from day one,” said Manamela.
He wanted to urge people from near and far to come to the train for services.
“They must come come as early as possible. We work on a first come, first serve basis. Our services are opened from Monday to Friday from 07:30 until the last patient. We do not operate on weekends. When coming to the facility, you are urged to bring your ID, birth certificate or passport. In terms of the services, they are expected to pay R5 for medication, R10 for dental services (cleaning, extraction and fillings) and for the optometrist, R30 for their glasses.”
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During Lowvelder’s visit, one of the patients, who chose to remain anonymous, said she woke up early so that she could get treatment for her eyes. “I left home in KaBokweni very early on Monday morning so that I can be one of the few that receive services from the train. I made it to be on the list of people who will be assisted on Tuesday, so I decided to sleep in Mbombela, and fortunately I was assisted. I did not want to go to the local hospitals, because I prefer the services rendered on the train and how they are done.”
According to the MEC for health, Sasekani Manzini, the province appreciates Transnet for the programme they are bringing to the province, not only here in Mbombela’s CBD, but to various health stations in Mpumalanga.
“We appreciate the Cheka Impilo that they are giving us. We want everyone to know their health status, so this train facility is assisting us. If you walk around this facility, mostly the people who love the train are elderly people who like the service they get for eyeglasses and the dental services provided here. We are getting all these doctors going to the community and providing services. This is the only way to do prevention.”
