Health train pulls into local station
Local communities rejoiced when Transnet's Phelophepa train pulled into the Polokwane railway station last Monday, because they knew this train brought hope with it.
POLOKWANE – Local communities rejoiced when Transnet’s Phelophepa train pulled into the Polokwane railway station last Monday, because they knew this train brought hope with it.
“The Phelophepa Health Train delivers much-needed health services to people who cannot afford quality healthcare. We provide a one-stop service with a variety of health services under one roof,” Onke Mazibuko, a psychologist, said.
The 18-coach train offers optometry, dental, psychological and parmaceutical services and will be at the Polokwane railway station until Friday, July 11.
Medical check-ups are done free of charge, while specific treatment costs only R10 and medication costs only R5. Those with eye problems pay only R30 for prescription glasses. Teeth are cleaned or removed free of charge.
The Phelophepa Health Train is a Transnet initiative that started in 1994 to give affordable primary healthcare to the needy.
“This year Phelophepha celebrates its 20th birthday and Phelophepha introduced a second health train to mark this occasion.
“This means Phelophepa will now be able to visit each province once a year, instead of every two years as in the past,” Mazibuko said.
Whenever the train pulls into a station, 40 health volunteers are trained to help their communities with health awareness.
Another 70 people are employed for various tasks, like interpreting for the doctors who might not speak the patient’s language, cleaning and other work at each station.
“Among the doctors and nurses who work on the train, we have about 39 fourth-year students who specialise in certain health professions and doing their internships. The students are working under the supervision of doctors.
“We also work closely with the department of health in each province and area that we are in, to ensure that patients who test positive for critical illnesses like cancer or HIV continue to receive help once the train has gone and that if we need extra pair of hands, they can help us with nurses,” Mazibuko explained.
