Mobile
Clinics
TTN Mobile Clinics Coordinator
Siggi oversees the operations of Mobiles 1 - 6, ensuring that operations run smoothly and they are on the road and dispensing Primary Healthcare to our rural communities.
Cel: +27 82 810 8669
Email: tholu@vodamail.co.za
Siggi's right hand! Thobile helps to coordinate the Mobile Clinic operations with Siggi, and also runs a Daycare center from her home, using the Asidlale Boxes and programme.
Cel: +27 81 001 0598
Johan Engelbrecht (Johnny) is a member of the TTN Board and the Augsburg Lutheran Church's Mission Committee. He manages the TTN Mobile Clinics, and is involved in all aspects of the work being done by the TTN Network - he also helps to source funding for the Clinics.
Cel: +27 82 825 2823
Johnny Engelbrecht
Siggi van Niekerk
Thobile Ngwenya
In this movie you will see a mobile clinic in action - but you will also see the logistical challenges, community, laughter, love and the social gathering around this vital service.
AN OPERATIONAL OVERVIEW
Click on the link to see an overview of our Clinic Statistics
HOW MANY MOBILE CLINICS DOES TTN RUN?
SIX mobile clinics - they service the areas of Piet Retief (Mkhondo), Amsterdam, communities on the Eswatini (Swaziland) border, and more recently the eDumbe area in KwaZulu Natal.
HOW MANY SITES ARE VISITED?
Approximately 230 Sites are visited each month.
We record approximately 60,000 patient visits annually.
The Clinics compile a monthly patient report every month of the number of Children and Adults treated at their sites, and the HIV Testing and ARV Distribution. These reports are typed up by our Administrator and emailed to our Team and the Department of Health (for their records).
WHO STAFFS A MOBILE CLINIC?
Each Mobile is staffed by two trained nurses supplied by the D.O.H. TTN provides a counselor who promotes HIV/AIDS testing and shares basic health issues and gives advice in each community. The clinics have become the ‘eyes’ of the Mission division, as well as being a source of information and support to the Governmental services and NGO’s working in this area of Primary Health Care.
WHY VISIT A MOBILE CLINIC AS OPPOSED TO A GOVERNMENT CLINIC?
Many local Government clinics are located miles away from the more 'rural' communities. Taxi fares are expensive, and these communities often have to walk great distances to reach the township clinics. For elderly patients, a 30km walk to a Department of Health Clinic is back breaking - many now have a shorter distance to walk, as our clinics stop at sites located where they live or nearby their community.
The Government Clinics are also encouraging patients to visit the TTN Mobile Clinics. They are overrun with patients, and the Mobile Clinics assist in taking a substantial amount of pressure off their facilities.
HOW DO THE MOBILE CLINICS OPERATE?
Our Mobile Clinics are authorised to dispense ARV's and Chronic Medication directly to patients once they have been registered, diagnosed and tested. The patients then receive their required medication on a month-to-month basis when the Mobile Clinic visits their allocated site.
For Farm/Forest Workers: the Mobiles are fitted with GPS tracking and can find contract harvesters who move from plantation to plantation as their work schedule demands. We also have a reporting system that allows for information to be captured and submitted from the actual site by means of Cell phones.
IS THIS SERVICE YIELDING OTHER POSITIVE RESULTS?
ABSOLUTELY! TTN has established a relationship with communities and developed a trust with them during the 14 years we have been running the clinic services. Through the relationship, we can then introduce sustainable projects such as Farming Foundations, the Asidlale Boxes and distribute Audio Bibles and Donations (food and clothing).
In a nutshell: the Mobiles are our eyes, ears and most importantly - HANDS - in the rural communities!
