“I have walked a long distance to be here," said an elderly grandmother from eNgonyameni, who had walked more than 20 kilometers to receive healthcare at a make shift clinic where volunteer doctors and nurses were providing care; "if only I could get a wheelchair and see a doctor".
The elderly, the young, some brought by wheelbarrow and the very sick walked a distance to receive care and medical attention from the team of 40 healthcare workers (under the auspices of the United Hands project) who are visiting the eNgonyameni tribal court to assist the Department of Health in delivering healthcare to the surrounding communities.
Situated just outside Umlazi Township, south of Durban, eNgonyameni community is mainly young; with 74 percent of the population between the ages of zero to 34, 50 percent of households are regarded as traditional and the unemployment rate is at 85 percent.
Speaking on behalf of the mayor, Mr Joe Nene (Policy Advisor to the mayor) said: "We are grateful for the contribution our friends are making in a country which has a chronic human resource shortage. We are also glad that Inkosi Cele has the health needs of his subjects at heart".
The United Hands project delegation is led by Dr David Williams who said: "We thank you for the warm reception and smiles. It is with great pleasure that we have come here to help your government in meeting your healthcare needs. We are glad to see your smiling faces that surely represent the warmth in your hearts".
The delegation, together with the Malaysian delegation who are visiting the province to share experiences and practices on medical male circumcision, were officially welcomed by the MEC at a function yesterday.
At the function the MEC said: "In public health, all of us, no matter our origin, find a common house, a common cause, a common passion. Public health is in a way more than a job for us: it is a passion, a heartfelt commitment, our whole life".
The United Hands project will be at eNgonyameni today and tomorrow, on Thursday and Friday they will visit Richmond an area called eSimozomeni. They have brought with them medicines, 1 200 eye glasses to correct sight impairments and specialists who are working in the Ngwelezane and Empangeni (Lower Umfolozi War Memorial) hospitals.
Contact:
Chris Maxon
Cell: 083 285 0567
Jabu Khuzwayo (of the United Hands project)
Cell: 083 7286 774
Hundreds thank the department and the United Hands project for specialist healthcare near where they live
Province
