Transnet’s long awaited Phelophepa Health Care Train(PHCT) has arrived at Dube Station in Soweto on 8 October 2023.It will be parked alongside Platform One from 9 October until 20 October 2023 and can be accessed from Mncube Drive.
Phelophepa,meaning “good clean health” a combination of Sotho and Tswana,has 19 carriagesthat will provide a host of health care services to the community on a first come, first served basis from 7.30 to 4pm daily except for weekends. An extensive community outreach programme is also part of the services.
Phelophepa operates with 24 staff members and 39 final year students from various tertiary institutions specialising in pharmacy, psychology, dental and optometry.
These are dedicated professionals who provide the following serviceson board, daily except for weekends:
Edu-Clinic: A health education program for up to 20 community volunteers focuses on topics such as personal and environmental hygiene, nutrition, immunization, family planning, STD and HIV/AIDS prevention, alcohol abuse, and smoking. These trained volunteers will serve as support systems in their communities.
Roche Health Clinic: Screening for health problems, minor ailment treatment, and health education. Consultations are free, and prescribed medication costs R5.00 per script, with no cost for scholars.
Eye Clinic: Visual screening, eye tests, prescription and provision of spectacles at affordable rates.
Dental Clinic: Free oral health education and screening, with extractions, cleaning, and filling services available at nominal fees.
Psychology/Counselling Clinic: Qualified psychologists offer individual and group counselling, as well as workshops on various topics.
“We are excited to havePhelophepa in Soweto with the collaboration of Provincial Health, Transnet and the city”, says member of the mayoral committee for Health, Councillor Ennie Makhafola-Ramadimetja.
Staff will not be confined to services on the train but will undertake an outreach programme to 18 primary and four secondary schools. They will provide free health screenings, minor treatments and referrals for eye and dental care to PHCT as well as psychology workshops for learners, educators, parents and members of school governing bodies.
Over the two weeks, upskilling workshops for Community Health Workers and psychology awareness and capacity building workshops will be held for groupsidentified by the Department of Social Development. The community will also benefit from geriatric screenings and treatment at four community centres and two informal settlements.
Phelophepa was introduced in 1994 as the Transnet’s Foundation social responsibility programme. A second train, Phelophepa II was introduced in 2013. Both these trains visit eight Provinces on an annual basis reaching more than 400 000 people per annum.
“Transnet has the infrastructure to reach people in poor, disadvantaged and rural areas of our country hence aiming to make health care accessible, affordable and available to all citizens and not to duplicate existing services offered by either the Department of Health’s Primary Health Care facilities or the City’s facilities”, says Mr Molatwana Likhethe Senior Manager at Transnet.
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