MOKOPANE – Residents can once again benefit from the healthcare services offered by the Phelophepa Healthcare Train, which is currently making healthcare services available in town.
The wheels of the Transnet Phelophepa train first started rolling in 1994 when a professor from the University of Johannesburg saw the need to bring proper healthcare closer to those living in the communities.
Train manager Thelma Satekge explained that in those years the train started with only three coaches and the scope of services was limited.
“Over the years, other services including eye care, have been incorporated to offer a more holistic service. You can’t just take care of the eye, for example. The eye is part of the body and if the patient is diabetic or hypertensive, this also affects the eye. The need has led us to have a clinic that works with the whole body.”
She said they also offer cancer screenings and administer vaccinations.
Other services offered on the train that is now 20 coaches strong, include that of a psychologist, a dental care clinic and a pharmacy.
The core of the train’s mandate is to support the Department of Health.
“The train tries to reach the community where the department struggles. It is our job to support them,” Satekge said.
She added that they make use of the services of final year students from various universities in South Africa and overseas.
“They have the opportunity to do their in-service training. Wherever we stop, we also hire professionals to assist us. An example of this is the nurses who do the glucose, hypotension and blood pressure tests.
“We also employ social workers to help in the psychology unit and we hire translators.
“Then there are cleaners, as well as kitchen and laundry assistants. For the patients who visit the train, special tents are set up and we use residents in the area to assist in this regard,” Satekge explained.
The train moves from station to station and in Limpopo the team has already covered the areas of Tzaneen and Musina.
Services already started in Mokopane on Monday, and the train will resume services next week Monday to Friday, from where it will move to Mookgophong.
