From MTHULISI SIBANDA in Ladysmith, KZN
LADYSMITH – IN what has been hailed as a world’s first in the sector, millions of South Africans are poised to benefit from a collaboration between Eskom and Transnet to improve access to primary healthcare services.

The partnership between Transnet’s Phelophepa health trains and Eskom’s new mobile health clinic, Bophelong, has been launched in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, southeast of the country.

The collaboration will see Transnet’s iconic and award-winning Phelophepa I and II reach 12 million patients in rural month.

Eskom’s mobile healthcare buses, launched under the aegis of the power utility’s foundation, will complement the services of Phelophepa trains.

The four Bophelong buses will be deployed across the rural areas in the country.

Dental care, eye care services, immunisations and general check-ups will be conducted on the most vulnerable members of the society and children.

Nonkululeko Sishi, Transnet Chief Human Resources Officer, said most of the health professionals came through the training pipeline while the rest had been absorbed by the broader healthcare industry.

“The latter fills us with great pride,” she said.

Cecil Ramonotsi, Acting Head of Eskom Foundation, expressed the organisation’s commitment to partnerships focused on contributing healthcare services where direly needed.

“These representative healthcare services will help us build healthier communities and ensure universal access to basic healthcare is a reality,” he said.

The Department of Public Enterprises has endorsed the partnership between the two foundations.

“The provision of healthcare should be anchored in partnerships between government, state-owned companies and key stakeholders to ensure we provide meaningful and impactful healthcare services to the majority of South Africans,” said Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises, Bulelani Magwanishe.
– Guardian