Phelphepa Comes to Thembisa

Scores of residents in and around Thembisa flocked to Olifantsfontein Train Station to be screened and tested for Covid19 and other illnesses at the Transnet Phelophepa Healthcare train.  

The 19-coaches Transnet Phelophepa train is a fully-fledged primary health care facility, fitted with state-of-the-art equipment such as the eye clinic, including spectacle lens cutting machines, dental clinic, pharmacy, consultation rooms, psychologist rooms and accommodation rooms for the health care officials working on the train.

The train arrived at the Olifanstfointen train station on Monday, 14 September, and will depart to its next destination on Friday (25 September 2020)

Gauteng Department of Health’s Assistant Director for Health Promotion, Patrick Nkabinde urged residents to visit the train.

“We are here to offer basic medical services including Covid-19 testing, to residents of Thembisa and nearby areas, so people must come forward,” he said

He said services on the train are offered free of charge, adding that there are cases where residents would have to pay for services such as tooth extraction or when they have to receive eye glasses.

“Eye tests are for free, however, should it be deemed that you require spectacles you will pay R30 for the lenses and frame,” he said

Nkabinde added that dental hygiene, such as washing of teeth is for free, however if there is a tooth extraction each patient will pay R10 for each tooth pulled out.

He said psychologists in the train have been helping those who lost their love ones to Covid19 and those who lost their jobs and businesses because of the pandemic. 

 The deputy director also pleaded with resident to desist from allowing children from loitering on the streets.

“It is not correct for the children to play alone on the streets. They may be hit by speeding vehicles or stolen by human traffickers. Human trafficking is growing in the world.  We need to protect our children more now,” he said.