CoCT takes mobile healthcare to the people

The City of Cape Town’s Health Directorate has spent R2m to acquire four new IVECO midi-buses in April this year. The refurbishment of the vehicles is set to cost just over R1m and will commence once the tender process has been finalised.

Three of City Health’s eight sub-districts use mobile clinics to reach clients in areas not situated close to existing health facilities. These are the northern, eastern and southern sub-districts. The northern district requires two mobile clinics due to the demand in the area.

“Our current fleet of mobile clinics is nearly two decades old, so we are very excited about the new vehicles. I’m hoping that the refurbishing of the vehicles will be finalised as quickly as possible so that we can hit the road and deliver even better services to our clients,” says the city’s mayoral committee member for health, Councillor Siyabulela Mamkeli.

The refurbishing of the vehicles will include:

• Removing the bulkhead of the vehicle

• Levelling the floor

• Fitting filing cabinets and a fridge for vaccines

• Private changing cubicles for patients

• A portable toilet and washing basin with a fitted water reservoir

• Examination bed

• Lighting, air conditioner and generator

A useful middle road

The mobile clinics will provide traditional primary healthcare services, if the professional nurse deployed with the vehicle is trained in all disciplines. This includes immunisations, family-planning services, HIV and TB testing and treatment, as well as basic antenatal care (BANC).

“These mobile clinics are crucial to our efforts to make healthcare accessible to all who need it. City Health is not in a position to build clinics at the rate of the public demand because we are an unfunded mandate. Mobile clinics, therefore, provide a useful middle road. However, these too have been a long time in the making and I am confident that they will be a valuable resource to help us build healthier communities,” says Councillor Mamkeli.