The 19-coach Phelophepa healthcare train travels to remote and rural communities, offering mostly free medical, dental, eye and psychological services to underserved populations.
The health train will be offering services at the De Wildt railway station from this week to 21 August, excluding Saturdays and Sundays. Community members are encouraged to make use of the rare opportunity to access much-needed healthcare services.
Services offered include free general health screenings, dental services with a minimal payment of R10 for fillings, extractions and cleaning (free for children under 16), and vision screening. All prescription eyeglasses cost a mere R30 per pair.
It also offers free cancer screening, diabetes screening and testing, Pap smears, and breast and prostate screenings.
The train has two on-board registered pharmacies that provide up to Schedule 4 medication.
It also offers counselling and psychosocial support services by a team of registered psychologists and counsellors.
Healthcare services are available from 07:30 to 16:00.
The Phelophepa project was born in 1994. The project had its humble beginnings as a three-coach eye clinic, but Transnet’s investment over the years in the project has seen it grow into two 20-coach, fully equipped primary healthcare facilities designed to operate on rail.
The Phelophepa comprehensive primary healthcare facility operates through Transnet’s existing railway networks spanning across South Africa.
The project is a 100% support mechanism to the Department of Health.
The De Wildt railway station is situated adjacent to the R566 (Rosslyn Road) in De Wildt.
