Eskom brings basic healthcare closer to learners

Nie Cele

Thumbs up for the Bophelong bus launch.

 

In a push to improve the quality of life by delivering health services to communities,  Eskom Development Foundation in partnership with the department of Public Enterprise recently delivered two state of the art mobile pediatric clinics to the community of Ritchie in the Northern Cape.

The event took place at Rietrivier Primary Schooland attracted dozens of community members and learners from the surrounding schools.

 

According to the giant power utility, this is part of its national CSI health programme.The health minibusesare aimed at improving the quality of life by delivering health services to communities Eskom operates in.

 

These Bophelong mobile clinics contain and provide dental and eye-care services, as well as general health check and are earmarked to service grade 1’s and 4 learners around the province including rural and remote communities that have little and no access to healthcare facilities .

 

KlaasGous, General Manager of Eskom in the province told the packed audience that challenges facing many of the communities Eskom operate in is quite stark.

 

“ We believe the gains our healthcare system has made can be furthered by our Bophelong mobile health service. Reaching the most vulnerable group in far-flung communities – the children – this service provides access to facilities they might otherwise struggle to reach. These preventative healthcare services will help us build healthier communities and ensure that universal access to basic healthcare services becomes a reality,” he said.

 

 

Speaking at the event on behalf of the Minister, Chief of Staff at the Department of Public Enterprises, Mohammad Khalid Sayed, lauded the work of the Bophelong Mobile Health Clinic and said the key objective is to take preventative health care services directly to all primary schools in the province.

“Most of our people live in under-serviced areas far from major towns and services. In the long term it is the children in these communities who bear the brunt of inadequate or inaccessible health services. The solution the Eskom Development Foundation came up with was to bring healthcare services directly to these communities,“he said.

On the sidelines Cecil Ramonetsi, CEO of Eskom Development Foundation told this publication that focusing on assisting far flung communities with health facilities also improve the quality of education in their settings.

 

 

 

Did you know

 

• The Eskom Development Foundation is tasked with implementing Eskom’s CSI strategy in sectors including enterprise development, education, healthcare, social and community development.
• The Eskom Bophelong Mobile Health Clinic was designed to reduce the barriers that children are often faced with in accessing healthcare services within communities.

 

• The mobile clinics started operating in 2014.

 

• They operate in Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Kwazulu-Natal, Free State.

 

• This project is done in partnership with provincial Departments of Basic Education.