Mixed views as Phelophepa cuts short Mthatha visit
MTHATHA residents expressed mixed reactions to the services provided by the Phelophepa healthcare train which left town a week early on Friday.
One of the patients Mncedi Gantile, 77 said while he was happy that he finally got treatment for his arthritis, he was upset that he had to wait two days before being attended to.
“I slept here on Wednesday and Thursday and only got medical attention on Friday morning as they were preparing to pack up and leave. I understand that the queues are quite long but they should expect this by now and should have a working system in place,” he said.
The Phelophepa train offers mobile healthcare through six onboard clinics – a health clinic, a pharmacy clinic as well as educational, dental, eye and psychology clinics.
Patience Tibane, 62, from Sbangweni, said she could not understand why the train only stayed for a week when it was announced on the radio that it would stay for two.
“How do they expect to help enough people if they only stay for a week? It is my first time coming to Phelophepa and although I got all my medication, I am a bit unhappy with their service,” she said.
Vera Sineke also spent a night waiting before being helped having travelled from Mount Frere. She said she was disappointed that she did not get the prescription glasses she really needed.
“I stood in a long line for close to three hours to get medication for my chronic bronchitis and afterwards I enquired about the spectacles and was told to start a new line. I thought that was unfair, I am old and I come from very far, even now my feet are swollen,” she said.
Despite attempts by the Dispatch to speak to the train manager, only one of the dentists Dr Thabiso Manamela, was available for comment.
He confirmed that the train’s time in Mthatha had been shortened but could not give details why, saying only that the reasons were operational. —