The good doctor meets the township

Doctors based within townships in KwaDukuza are as scarce as hen’s teeth.

So rare that the Maphumulo born doctor Nkosingiphile Mdletshe is a peculiarity that attracts more suspicion then excitement.

Mdletshe opened his first township surgery in Thembeni in March last year because he wanted to impact local townships at ground level.

“For a sick person living in the township accessing medical care can be a stressful and costly affair, from walking to catching a taxi to pay for treatment. I would like to put an end to their struggle,” he said.

The doctor said he was working hard to gain people’s trust.

“It is hard for people to believe that I have chosen to work here instead of leaving for the big city.” Mdletshe grew up in a remote rural area and he said he understands how frustrating it is to be far from medical help.

“My mother was unemployed and my granny sold vegetables from her garden. We could not buy vegetables, even mealies, so I grew up eating what we could grow ourselves.”

Despite the poverty of his childhood, he worked hard in school and after matriculating from Ukukhanyakwezwe Secondary with excellent grades.

He eventually graduated as a doctor in 2009 from the University of KZN.

“My gogo and my mother were the ones who instilled the importance of being educated. I used to see the effort they put in just for me to get to school. They would go to bed on an empty stomach, as long as my educational needs were met. That made me take my studies seriously.”

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The down to earth doctor first worked in Mpumalanga and then at Stanger Hospital. But working for the state was not in his long-term plan.

The father of three has since built a house for his mother in Thembeni and he is staying with his family in Darnall.

While he is not able to offer his services for free he says he tries to meet his clients halfway and offers things like HIV and AIDS, blood pressure, TB testing and circumcision for free.

After his practice in Thembeni started to take-off the doctor opened a second practice in Melville at the beginning of the year.

As word continues to spread about the good doctor perhaps one day people will travel to the townships to seek him out. Only time will tell.

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