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 1 500 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 has 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, addressing the function after the official opening, expressed concern that “the rate of TB in this area is very high.”
“To hear that not less than nine staff members are currently on TB treatment is cause for concern. I want to challenge Amakhosi, Faith leaders, Councilors and all people in leadership position to make this matter their own,” said MEC Dhlomo. He said that no community meeting should end without iNkosi having encouraged his/her subjects to get tested for tuberculosis (TB) and HIV.
Enquiries:Chris Maxon
Cell: 083 447 2869
