Rural Maubane receives solar powered health centre

© Ramona Heim – za.fotolia.com

The SPHC, launched on Friday, 10 July, at the Maubane Clinic in Dihibidung Village in Ga-Maubane, 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.

First launched at 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.

Speaking during the launch of SPHC, North West Health MEC, Magome Masike said the rural areas are particularly susceptible to health issues, due to lack of access to health care and this impacts 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.

Head of Corporate Citizenship for Samsung Electronics Southern Africa, Pitso Kekana said the 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," said Kekana.

Welcoming the SPHC into the Ga-Maubane community, Kgosi Phopolo Maubane from the Bakgatla Ba Ga Mocha Tribal Council said it was essential that their 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," said Kgosi Maubane.

Samsung Electronics South Africa 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.