Residents of the rural area to benefit from proactive medical care and education
The North West Department of Health together with Samsung Electronics South Africa on Friday, 10 July 2015 launched a Solar Powered Health Centre (SPHC) at the Maubane Clinic in Dihibidung Village in Ga-Maubane. The health centre is built for use in remote rural areas with the goal to eliminate the economic and geographic barriers that prevent people across Africa from obtaining quality medical treatment.
The SPHC at the Maubane Clinic is housed in a shipping container fitted with the most advanced medical equipment and Samsung solar panels. The focus will be on screening up to 300 patients a day to diagnose conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, tooth decay and cataracts, as well as educating the community on health issues.
The SPHC will be visited by a medical doctor twice a week.
Speaking during the launch of SPHC MEC Magome Masike thanked Samsung for helping improve access to specialised healthcare.
"Rural areas are particularly susceptible to health issues, due to lack of access to health care and this impact on overall quality of life.
"Solutions like the SPHC help address this issue and we are appreciative of this partnership with Samsung whereby we can use their unique expertise to improve the living standards of our people," said MEC Masike.
According to the World Bank, more than 60% of people in Sub-Saharan Africa live in rural areas and lack the resources to reach clinics for proactive medical care. First launched in Cape Town in 2013, Samsung’s SPHC harnesses solar power to present a viable, affordable initiative to provide professional, qualified medical care to underserved communities.
Pitso Kekana, Head of Corporate Citizenship for Samsung Electronics Southern Africa said: "Our experience in Africa has shown us how desperately medical care is needed across the continent, especially in rural areas. Our goal at Samsung is to positively impact African lives. We have seen tremendous success thus far and I have high hopes that the village of Dihibidung will enjoy the benefits of high quality, professional medical care.”
Kgosi Phopolo Maubane from the Bakgatla Ba Ga Mocha Tribal Council welcomed the SPHC into the Ga-Maubane community.
"It is essential that our people have access to health care and are educated on how best to take care of themselves. The SPHC is a welcome addition to our community and we look forward to providing support in any way we can to maximise the results."
Samsung Electronics South Africa will also handed over a Mobile Mother and Child Health Centre for the benefit of the villages of the Bojanala District. The Mother and Child unit is equipped to offer comprehensive pre- and post-natal screening, care and education in an effort to reduce Africa’s high infant mortality rate.
Enquiries:
Tebogo Lekgethwane
Spokesperson
Cell: 082 929 9958
Ngwako Motsieng
Cell: 082 964 8838
