The Amazwi Villager

Written By Lydia Ngomane and Constance Rahlane

From 22-26 September, people from different villages in Bushbuckridge Municipality flocked to Acornhoek, to queue in the line for the Phelophepa Train, a seSotho word for Good Clean Health. Everyone waited to be examined at an affordable price. People have been waiting for their health train to come for more than a year because, since it started in 1994, the train comes once, every other year. Now it sees more than 45,000 patients in a year across four provinces, all in rural areas. “It gives insight of how rural people live,” said Magdeline Ntikinca, deputy manager of Phelophepa, from Eastern Cape.

Phelophepa works with last year’s medical students from all the universities in South Africa, and also local retired nurses. “They never want money because they know what we give them is more than money will provide,” said Magdeline. The students are offered practical job experience, traveling, and free food. Phelophepa has five clinics: eye, health, psychology, dental, and medicine. It also has free one week health education courses for 16 people, sponsored by St. John Ambulance.

Not only does the Phelophepha train help sick victims, but it also empowers local people by giving them employment as cleaners, translators, labourers and other positions during its presence. Musa Mnisi and Goodwill Makhubela from Timbavati village, who both worked in registry, said Phelophepa gave them the opportunity to help their community. Goodwill was given a bracelet by an old woman, thanking him for his services. “I wish the train could come every year because there are a lot of sick people,” said Musa.

It also brings smiles to Magdeline every day to sees the train achieving its main purpose. “It is a fulfilling job. At the end of the day, I am happy knowing that I am doing something to help rural villages.”

Villagers could should have even more hope because Phelophepa is planning to build another train before 2020. It may seem very far, but time passes like water.