What are the health needs and challenges?

In rural communities in resource-limited countries where there is usually a very poor doctor-to-patient ratio, people travel long distances to receive even basic healthcare provision. The Transnet-Phelophepa train aims to address this challenge by travelling to up to 70 remote communities per year to bring healthcare services directly to the patients.

Partnership activities and how they address needs and challenges

Transnet-Phelophepa is a free, mobile healthcare clinic that travels to areas of rural South Africa, where there is just one doctor for every 5,000 patients. Phelophepa is owned and operated by Transnet Foundation with Roche being Phelophepa’s main external sponsor, providing funding since the train took its first journey in 1994. The partnership is sustained by over 50 supporters.

There are two trains (Phelophepa I and Phelophepa II), each comprised of 18 coaches providing facilities to conduct general health, dental and eye checks in rural communities, and dispense treatments for diagnosed conditions. In addition to these general health services, individual counseling sessions and group workshops to help people cope with psychological issues such as stress and depression are offered.

The trains also house special coaches for education, where members of the local communities can participate in classes on general health issues such as nutrition, hygiene and dental health. More specialist services have been introduced, including diabetes prevention, hypertension and cancer screening, with free pap smears and prostate screening now being provided in a tent set up on the train’s platform at some stops.