The Phelophepa Train of Hope will shortly be rolling out of Mtubatuba station and chugging southwards to Empangeni
Residents of Empangeni and surrounds will from Monday until 29 March have the opportunity to receive vital healthcare services at next to no cost
BRINGING primary healthcare to impoverished Zululanders, the Phelophepa Train of Hope will shortly be rolling out of Mtubatuba station and chugging southwards to Empangeni.
Residents of Empangeni and surrounds will from Monday until 29 March have the opportunity to receive vital healthcare services at next to no cost.
With private healthcare costs far out of rural communities’ budgets and the quality of state healthcare deteriorating, the Transnet Foundation’s Phelophepa Train of Hope is indeed the healthcare hope for the thousands making use of its services.
PHOTO: Tamlyn Jolly
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Kept on their toes with the hundreds of patients queuing each day to visit the various health clinics aboard the train, the 40 permanent members of staff and numerous volunteers wasted no time in assessing people’s eyesight, dental work, psychological needs and general health.
Serving aboard the Phelophepa train counts as community service for the students studying one of the fields of healthcare offered, which include general healthcare, dentistry, optometry and psychological healthcare.
Since its inception in 1994, the Phelophepa train has reached more than 23 million patients across South Africa.
With healthcare services sometimes an hours-long trek for many rural communities, the train’s aim is to provide outreach and educational programmes to out-of-the-way areas.
The eye clinic includes pre-screening areas and refraction rooms, fully equipped with phoropters, eye test projection charts and bio-microscopes.
Part of the attraction is that patients receive their prescription glasses on the same day.
The dental clinic is equipped with six chairs, x-ray units and state-of-the-art dental equipment to carry out most dental procedures.
The health clinic focuses on health education, treatment of minor diseases including diabetes, and cancer screening.
There is also a pharmacy, plus educational and psychology clinics.
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