MSF Tshwane Migrant Project provides a refuge from the pain

Most South Africans don’t even think twice about having a bath or shower – but to undocumented foreigners like Mozambican David Zunguza and Sierra Leonean James Smith, that privilege is only made possible by the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) staff, or Doctors Without Borders.

Having fled from wars and economic instability in their countries, Zunguza and Smith cannot be employed locally due to their immigration status.

For the past four years in exile, the MSF Tshwane Migrant Project has been their only hope. There they can enjoy a shower, have a washing line to hang clothes and get medical examination, internet, legal advice and coffee.

The Sediba Hope Medical Centre on the corner of Bosman and Madiba streets serves as a one-stop shop, providing support to vulnerable people – especially undocumented migrants, asylum seekers and refugees. The health facility, which is open on weekdays, also provides a safe space.

“This is the best thing that could have happened to me: a facility to shower, have access to the internet, locker rooms and even wash my clothes,” says Zunguza of the hub in the centre of the city.

The facility includes a primary healthcare clinic, offering family planning and mental health.

“Apart for my daily shower, I once a week get counselling and treatment,” says Smith. “The service is outstanding.”

Founded in 1971 in Paris by a group of journalists and doctors, MSF – an international, nonprofit medical humanitarian organisation – has grown into a worldwide movement based in 40 countries. It has more than 67,000 staff who offer medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters and exclusion from healthcare.

MSF teams are made up of health professionals , logistic and administrative staff, guided by medical ethics and the principles of impartiality, independence and neutrality.

Rapid and effective in response to emergencies, MSF staff – who have witnessed violence, atrocities and neglect in the course of work – are driven by saving lives.

In 1999, the organisation launched the MSF Access Campaign with funds received from the Nobel Peace Prize to push for access to essential medicines, diagnostic tests and vaccines to patients in need.

In 2003, MSF co-founded the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, a not-for-profit innovative drug development model to develop treatments for neglected patients. This has delivered treatments for malaria, paediatric HIV, leishmaniasis, Chagas disease and sleeping sickness – including the recently launched oral sleeping sickness treatment, Fexinidazole.

According to MSF field communications manager Kate Ribet, Tshwane has become a focal point for asylum seekers and refugees in South Africa, who visit the centre to renew their applications.

“Most of them face huge administrative barriers to claim asylum, with little information provided and little access to free legal support,” says Ribet. “Many travel great distances to Tshwane. Yet once they are there, they have nowhere to stay, with many forced to sleep on pavements and in parks – awaiting their appointments.

“Although South Africa’s constitution defends the rights of all who seek refuge in the country, many face huge barriers to access services through the public health system, due to language, cultural barriers, discrimination and often outright denial of treatment.”

Tshwane Migrant Project coordinator Musa Ndlovu says MSF’s work also covers Johannesburg, Khayelitsha township in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Rustenburg in the North West, focusing on tuberculosis, HIV/Aids and gender-based violence, among other services.

“In Tshwane, we have two nurses and a doctor at the clinic. We also have two mental health counsellors and a social worker.

“We deal with people who have no documents, fearing to go to the department of home affairs lest they be arrested,” says Ndlovu.

“It is important that there is public education on how migrants can deal with their situation and understand the process of getting documents.

“By next year, we are looking at an expansion by having a roving team in place to be on the ground and deal with issues first hand, working with community health and mental workers.

“We are determined to reach out to all people who need support to be able to change their lives,” says Ndlovu.

Dr Ayanda Cengimbo and nursing sister Nomgcobo Nsibande daily examine up to 15 patients.

“In this humanitarian work, we are able to assist anyone, regardless of social or immigration status, like not being in possession of documents,” said Cengimbo.

“The sick should be treated for all kinds of diseases, failing which, diseases like TB are likely to spread because migrants live within communities.

“Since I joined MSF in May 2019, I get a fulfilment doing this work because I have no limitations.

“Helping the helpless and undocumented people gives me joy because it means going beyond the call of duty.”

While many South Africans show complete disregard for the plight of others, Cengimbo and the MSF staff have made it their business to help those in dire need.

– brians@citizen.co.za

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