Located along the N2 national road corridor as a national link between Gauteng and the Richards Bay Complex and on to Durban; the people of uPongolo had something to rejoice when they saw the clinic being built.
The small town is surrounded by large sugarcane farm estates where hundreds of farm workers live with their families and in the past were serviced by mobile health units that came not more than once a month.
“I remember that when I was pregnant with my second daughter; I never thought I would survive the pregnancy or birth,” narrates Miss Thobile Dhlamini, who originate from Swaziland and works in one of the farms, at the official opening function. “I never had an opportunity to attend the ante-natal clinic and worst of all I’m diabetic.”
The community has close ties with Swaziland which is just a stone throw away from uPongolo. Since the clinic started its operations, more than 1500 of people who come to the clinic are Swazi nationals. Less than a kilometre away is a Truck Stop which provides all primary healthcare services to passing truckers. Like all communities along the national routes, the community of the nearby Ncotshane township have to burry young people who have succumbed to HIV and AIDS. The Itshelejuba Hospital reports a very high teenage pregnancy rate. “This year; our school health team attends to about 33 school kids who are pregnant,” says the Hospital manager Mrs Mbali Simelane. “We do not have correct stats as some kids leave school once pregnant or their parents move them to other areas.”
The MEC is in the area to officially open a clinic and announce that it will hence forth provide a 24 hour service. A statement will be issued together with photographs (through Themba Mngomezulu at 0725175 417). The MEC is also available for voice interviews that can be arranged through Chris Maxon at 083 447 2869.
