Roche South Africa

Phelophepa Health Train

The Transnet Phelophepa health Train (Phelophepa’ is a Sotho and Venda word meaning ‘good, clean health’), boasts consulting rooms spacious enough to accommodate a patient, an escort, a nurse, and a clinical supervisor.

The coach containing the health clinic was renamed the Roche Health Clinic in 1995 in recognition of the company’s contribution, and it has been sporting this name proudly ever since. In 1995 a further two carriages were added to Phelophepa, and a year later it reached its present length of 16 coaches.

In 2001 Roche offered to play an even more prominent role in the project. As a result, the company now bears full responsibility for the Roche Health Clinic: for ensuring its continuing operation, for paying the salaries of its staff, for maintaining the equipment and for providing educational and training materials.

Roche also finances a vehicle that health clinic staff can use while the train is at a station to visit surrounding villages and schools. The unit also features an emergency room equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic tools - ranging from a cardiac monitor to a defibrillator, to intravenous therapy apparatus and an adjustable Trendelenburg bed.

It conducts screenings for cancer, diabetes, and hypertension, with pap smears for women and prostate checks for men. The screening itself is backed by a comprehensive programme of education and outreach.  Wherever it travels across the country, the Phelophepa brings more than the promise of Good, Clean Health … it brings hope and healing to those who need it most...delivering the promise to the patients.

Phelophepa Healthcare Train Fact File

 

• Has 18 coaches, is over 380 metres in length and weighs over 600 tonnes
• Travels through 70 communities over a two-year cycle
• Is operated by 19 resident staff and supported by up to 40 South African student volunteers
• Has helped to train over 20 000 student doctors pharmacists, nurses since its first journey
• Has made over 25,000 school visits to date, delivering vital health checks, medicines and education to children
• Sees an average of over 45 000 patients a year, treating over 600 000 patients since 1994
• Over 5.4 million people have benefited through general health screening and HIV/Aids awareness initiatives.