A prenatal mobile clinic introduced in Diepsloot
DIEPSLOOT - GAUTENG Health MEC Qendani Mahlangu and Philips Health Care launched a mobile clinic in Diepsloot township.
Philips and the Rhiza Foundation pilot mobile clinic intends to improve delivery of primary healthcare and build healthier communities.
The project is a collaboration between Philips, Rhiza Foundation, Nozala Trust and Industrial Development Corporation which Mahlangu hailed as an example of a Public Private Partnership aimed at improving access to high-quality primary healthcare
“Philips South Africa and the Rhiza Foundation today launched their mobile clinic project focusing on delivering basic primary healthcare to thousands of people living in townships that have little or no access to healthcare facilities,” said Mahlangu.
The mobile clinic is currently being deployed to service the populous townships of Diepsloot, Cosmo City and Orange Farm.
The mobile clinic vehicle, custom built on a mid-sized truck frame operates as a ‘mini-health clinic on wheels’, and provides an extremely versatile platform to deliver primary health care services, education and counselling. Measuring 10m by 2.5m, the mobile clinic is divided into two parts: a maternal and child care section and a dental care section.
Maternal screening allows for early detection of complications
According to the Philips Fabric of Africa trends report, women in Africa are at significant risk of premature death, with particular high mortality rates recorded in pregnancy. The report pointed out that women in semi-urban and rural areas in Africa often die due to preventable complications during childbirth as they have no access to ultrasound screenings to detect critical conditions. The report said many of these deaths could be diagnosed with basic imaging technology.
Alef Meulenberg, chairman and founder of Rhiza Foundation said, “Rhiza stands for community development at large, through education, skills and enterprise development as well as primary healthcare that makes a sustainable difference in township communities in Johannesburg and Cape Town. “Our goal is to make people self-sustaining, through our holistic approach regarding community and socio- economic development.
“We are extremely proud that the mobile clinic in collaboration with Philips and our other partners is being launched today; we are confident that it will provide and improve primary healthcare in township communities that currently lack regular access to these services.”
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