Sasol affirmed its commitment to improve community health and service infrastructure when the company donated yet another mobile clinic to the Department of Health in Fezile Dabi on Tuesday this week.
This mobile clinic supplements the Metsimaholo fleet of five and will provide clinical services such as primary health care, screening, family planning and referrals, while also dispensing chronic medication to residents in remote areas such as Viljoensdrift and the Oranjeville farming community.
“Sasol is fully aware that access to health care is a concern for many South Africans, but even more so for those living in outlying areas, far from local community clinics. We realise that patients tend to default on their treatment because they are not in close proximity to the services that support their medical care.
“As a mobile clinic is able to reach 1 600 patients a month on average, this donation will contribute to our goal to make healthcare accessible to all, ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all, regardless of age, or where you live,” said Gao Mothoagae, Vice President Corporate Social Investment and Sasol Foundation.
Since 2014, Sasol has invested R69 million in upgrading of health care facilities in Metsimaholo. Apart from the five mobile clinics and a mobile eye clinic donated to the Free State Department of Health over the years, Sasol has upgraded the Zamdela Health Care Centre, Clinic B, the Harry Gwala and Thusanang clinics and built a new clinic from where the Sasolburg Clinic now operates.
All these facilities were renovated and built to comply with the Department of Health’s specifications for ideal clinics. One of the largest investments was the work Sasol did in collaboration with the Free State Department of Health at the Sasolburg hospital that elevated the facility to district hospital status.