Phelophepa health train brings free medical services to Heidelberg
The services are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Phelophepa 1 Healthcare Train arrived at the Heidelberg Station on June 2.
It will offer vital healthcare services directly to the community for the next 10 days.
From dental and eye care to general medical checkups, cancer screenings, and blood tests, the train offers accessible professional healthcare across a wide range of disciplines, all under one roof on rails.
Lesedi Local Municipality Mayor Mluleki Nkosi and councillors Thulani Mashanini, Mapule Motsepe, Phindi Mpemvu, Themba Gama and Yvonne Combrink attended the event to launch the train’s services and meet with various dignitaries.
“The train has been operational since 1994 when it started as a small six-coach dental train and expanded to what it is today,” said Dr Paballo Mokwana.
Dr Mokwana spoke on behalf of the train’s management.
Nkosi said he is thankful the train is in Heidelberg. “It is a privilege that the health train has made Heidelberg an extended stop. Health is essential for a thriving community and success. We are thankful that with this service, we can hopefully get many community members seen, too,”
Community members started arriving as early as 02:00 for the services. By 06:00, all spots for the day had been allocated.
Each medical discipline can accommodate only a specific number of patients per day. If the quota is reached, latecomers are asked to return the next morning.
Combrink closed with the following, “We are thankful for this initiative. To the heroes onboard the train (doctors, nurses, medical students, support staff), your compassion brings healing that goes far beyond medicine. A special thanks to Andile Masondo and train manager Bheki Mendula, whose leadership and months of planning before the train’s arrival will ensure hundreds of community members and school learners benefit from the service.”
After the opening, attendees toured the various train compartments to see first-hand what was on offer.
Besides the medical compartments, the train includes a laundry, accommodation for the medical and support crew, a dining room and a kitchen.
About 90 staff members assist the community, including doctors, nurses, medical students and support crew.
The train is open until June 6, when it will shut down for two days for a deep clean and reopen on June 13.
After that, the train will go to Vereeniging. Two healthcare trains provide communities with medical help. Phelophepa 2 is in Mpumalanga.
