The communities of Dewetsdorp and Wepener in the Free State now have easier access to health care.
These towns have had limited access to healthcare facilities for many years, with only one public clinic in Wepener and in the farming area leading up to Dewetsdorp.
The project between the registered non-profit organisation Unjani Clinic and the Bestmed Medical Scheme will do a lot more to reach individuals.
The scheme has handed over the keys to a second Unjani Clinic Health Pod to Sister Mokhantso Lesia. The pod is equipped with the necessary medical supplies and equipment needed to provide quality, easily accessible and affordable private health care to the underprivileged in these communities.
In addition to the Unjani Clinic Health Pod, Lesia also received 50 reusable sanitary pad kits, which will be distributed to local schoolgirls who cannot afford sanitary pads.
“We are deeply grateful for this generous donation. The Unjani Clinic Health Pod symbolises a beacon of hope, bringing vital healthcare to the heart of our community and the surrounding areas,” said Lesia.
The Wepener community, including about 45 farms in the area, have access to only one public clinic and a family practitioner who is only available three days a week. As an Unjani Clinic Dewetsdorp nurse, Lesia identified the need to service the more than 40 km from Dewetsdorp towards Wepener.
“Now with this new Unjani Clinic Health Pod, the community can receive frequent and affordable healthcare services,” she commented.
“Equally, the provision of sanitary pads for our young girls is not just an act of kindness, but a profound step towards ensuring their dignity, health and uninterrupted education.”
Unjani Clinic, which launched in 2014, is a network of black women-owned and operated primary healthcare clinics. Through its network of 156 facilities, Unjani Clinic has to date provided over three million healthcare consultations, empowered more than 130 professional “nurse-preneurs” and created permanent employment for over 630 people. There are currently eight fully functional health pods, of which this is the second sponsored by Bestmed. Bestmed funded its first Unjani Clinic Health Pod in 2023 – one that has been serving the communities in and around George and to date, over 3 500 sanitary pad kits have been distributed to communities in need since 2020.
Madelein Barkhuizen, executive of marketing and sales at Bestmed, said they remained committed to addressing the needs of the wider South African community in a personalised and impactful way.
“Providing access to quality healthcare continues to be of utmost importance to us. To be able to help provide this access and affordable healthcare to underserved and vulnerable communities through the Unjani Clinic Health Pods is not just a privilege, but an honour,” she said.
