In March 2012 a free medical clinic opened its doors to the community of Estcourt. The Sai Clinic, which is housed at Forderville Primary School, provides professional medical treatment and has assisted thousands of patients since it opened.

Run by the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation, the clinic is open every Sunday from 8am until midday. It is clearly evident that the service is a much-needed one, as the clinic sees dozens of people each week.

Speaking about the clinic’s success, Dr Lalitha Badul, one of the doctors who regularly tends to patients, said that the response has been overwhelming and the momentum has not ceased since 2012. On average about 30 patients are treated at the clinic each week.

Common ailments that are treated include respiratory tract infections, hypertension, diabetes, kidney infections, allergies and urinary tract infections, to name a few.

Patients from Wembezi, Loskop and Rensburg are also travelling to the clinic each week. The organisation envisions introducing more screenings as well as a counselling wing for patients who may be mourning the loss of a loved one, suffering from cancer or addicted to substances.