VEREENIGING – The Transnet Phelophepa Health Train has left the Vereeniging station. This after two weeks of providing key health services to communities from in and around the Sedibeng district.
It seems the presence of the train highlighted the plight of communities who travelled from far and near, even spending some nights at the train station in order to be first in line to access various services.
Speaking to Ster North, a pensioner who did not want to be named said she spent two nights at the station in order to gain access to the eye clinic.
“For me, it is worth it to spend the night here knowing that I will get my prescription glasses immediately. It is much better than going to my local clinic where I will have to wait for months before they can get me glasses.”
Acting Phelophepa Train Manager Dr Thabiso Manamela said that they were getting a high number of patients visiting the clinic since the commencement date.
“We were seeing more than 400 patients daily. We have about five clinics on the train offering various services. The problem that we are experiencing is that the majority of patients visiting the clinic only require the eye clinic, which makes it difficult because we are not only dealing with that clinic, there are also other clinics that we encourage patients to visit.”
Manamela said as a result of the influx, they had to refer some patients back to their local clinics to get further assistance.
Manamela condemned the act of people spending the night on the platform to gain access to services saying that patients were putting their lives in danger.
“We advise against people spending the night to access services. They are putting their lives in danger and we strongly advise against it.”
Acting Chief Director for Sedibeng District Health Services Sonwabo Lindani confirmed that the train was seeing more people than the set number, as a result of the high demand. He said what made the train more attractive was the specialised services.
Lindani explained that the demand for services was very high and as a result, the staff on the train had to overextend themselves in order to cover the high number of patients seeking services. He also condemned community members sleeping at the station to gain early access to the train’s services.
