Gauteng Health brings hospital in train

The Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko officially welcomed the Transnet Phelophepa Healthcare Train at the Dube Station on October 10.

Known for providing community healthcare at a first come first serve basis, Transnet’s Phelophepa Healthcare Train is parked on platform one until October 20 and can be accessed from Mncube Drive.

With over 19 carriages, the train provides a basket of health services which include among others, dental services, eye care and screening for diabetes and cancer free of charge and some at a very low cost.

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MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko said, the services offered are more like a hospital in a train and it is an exciting moment for her Department to make this announcement.

“Some of the elderly residents were here from early morning until late and the long queues shows that residents want to receive services the government is providing. We are going to strengthen our relationship with the stakeholders who are part of this initiative and ensure that we move the services to other parts of Gauteng,” MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko said.

She added that there were no challenges detected thus far with offering services to residents except that the space for patients and workers is not the same as the one they would have when working under normal environment as well as the high number of people who want to be screened.

“We are increasing the number of people who will be working on the train by also adding healthcare workers from the Gauteng Department provincial team.

“Some services will require patients to pay from as little as R5 such as those who need deeper screening.”

Communities in Soweto and surrounding areas are urged to take advantage of the opportunity to access healthcare services offered by the train.

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Among the many people who are looking forward to making use of the service is an elderly resident, Mathole Montjani from Orlando West who is grateful for the services offered in the train.

“When I got here yesterday, there was confusion. I initially registered for an eye screening but when I got here they booked me for cleaning my teeth, so today I received my glasses and will be doing a prostate cancer screening but overall I am very happy with the offered services and treatment,” Montjani said.

The operational days and times are Monday to Friday from 07h30 to 16h00.