MBOMBELA – Transnet’s Train of Hope, Phelophepa, has made its stop in Mbombela to provide primary healthcare services to local communities.
The train has brought various healthcare services, including dental care, eye care, cancer screening, and mental healthcare services, among others. Some residents from as far as Nkomazi have decided to camp overnight due to long queues.
However, the Train Manager, Bheki Mendlula said they will try their best to assist everyone.
Interestingly, the psychology clinic has received significantly more patients this year compared to previous years, indicating that there is still much work to be done in raising mental health awareness.
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“We do breast cancer screening for women and cervical cancer screening, and for males we do prostate cancer screening as well.
“Then we have eye care services, and we also have our pharmacy on board that supports these clinics. After the clinics have assessed the patients and identified what they need, prescriptions are issued and the pharmacy is able to provide the required medication.
“In terms of patient turnout, yes, there are many people who have come to access our services. However, as a contingency plan, we try to avoid having people sleep here overnight, although some still do. Others come from far areas, and by the time they arrive, the facility is already full,” said Mendlula.
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He added that he is particularly pleased with the progress made at the psychology clinic, which communities had previously neglected because many people tend to shy away from mental health issues. However, this year the clinic has been busy.
“We’re now seeing people coming in on their own, and I think it’s because of the work we’ve been doing over the years through workshops in schools and communities, as well as educating patients about mental health.
“People are now voluntarily visiting the psychology clinic to engage with our psychologists. It is one of the things we are really happy about because we are seeing change.
“Historically, the clinic would mostly stand idle and only conduct workshops, but now you see people coming in for individual counselling and families attending counselling sessions together. Our team of psychologists and registered counsellors now has a lot more work to do, which is encouraging for us,” he said.
MEC for Health, Sasekani Manzini also visited the train and interacted with patients. She was also taken through the optometry clinic and shown the process of making spectacles. Manzini said she used to accompany her parents to the train when she was younger.
“We benefit as the department, especially because the services they are providing — such as dental care, mental healthcare, and optometry — remain a challenge for many of our people. The general primary healthcare services they are bringing here are essential. People want their eyes checked and tested, and they want spectacles.
“In Nkomazi, we have a hospital with a dedicated eye unit. As I interacted with patients, I asked them why they do not access services there. They said they are afraid. Some elderly men would rather wear glasses than undergo cataract surgery. But after speaking to one patient, he said he would consider it. Most of our patients in Tonga are elderly people, so I reassured them that there is nothing to fear,” said Manzini.
