Healthcare train steams in

THE train of hope, nothing short of a miracle for some, rolled into Mtubatuba on Friday, 21 February.

Meaning ‘good, clean health’ in Tswana and Sotho, the Phelophepa Healthcare Train has, since its inception in 1994, brought healthcare to 14.5 million South Africans and delivered more than half a million pairs of spectacles.

In Mtubatuba for two weeks, from Monday, 24 February to Friday, 7 March, the train will serve members of the greater community and provide healthcare services that may not be otherwise available to them.

With numerous clinics aboard the Phelophepa Train, including dentistry, optometry, general medical and psychology, a host of ailments can be tested and treated. Patients started lining-up in the early hours of the morning, some even sleeping at the venue to ensure they receive the medical treatment they require.

Come opening time, each patient is given a ticket and 200 tickets per clinic are handed out each day. No staff member or student retires until every ticketed patient has been attended to.

This year is no different in Mtubatuba. One day into the service, and healthcare workers are run off their feet in an attempt to see every patient. While the optometry and dental clinics appeared to be most in demand, many mothers with small babies were waiting their turn to have babies weighed and measured at the health clinic.

Blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes are some of the ailments tested for at the health clinic, as well as cancer screening. The pharmacy clinic then dispenses medication to patients and, where necessary, refers them to a permanent clinic for ongoing medical care.

Previously, the Phelophepa Train spent one week at each stop on its scheduled route. This year, however, due to a greater demand, Mtubatuba’s time slot was extended by a week.

As it powers through KwaZulu-Natal, the next stop for the Phelophepa Train is Empangeni, where it will be stationed from 10 – 21 March.