Health and Wellness

The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness has invested R119.092 million to procure sixty-three new mobile clinic units through the Western Cape Government Motor Transport trading entity. Fifty seven (57) will replace ageing units that currently serve deep rural settlements, farms and outreach points, while a further six will strengthen the provincial school health and wellness programme. Six professional nurses have been funded so that the additional units are fully utilised.

The design and specification process placed frontline nursing staff at its centre. A demonstration vehicle was first brought to the GMT depot where nurses from all districts were invited to walk through the unit and discuss day-to-day practicalities. The technical team then travelled to several rural sites to observe service conditions directly before drafting the final specification. A core group of departmental staff consolidated all feedback into detailed drawings that were refined with the manufacturer, after which a full prototype was built, test-driven, and formally approved for production. Throughout the process we insisted that the finished vehicle remain a Code 8 class so that the nurses who staff the clinics can also drive them.

Several changes requested by nurses have been incorporated:

• Extra interior headroom now allows a tall person to stand upright in the consulting area, reducing the risk of musculoskeletal strain during examinations.
• Vital-sign and diagnostic equipment is permanently fixed to the walls to free up work surfaces. Examples include an electronic blood-pressure monitor, an ear nose and throat diagnostic set with an integrated consumables dispenser, and an articulated examination lamp that can be positioned precisely over the patient.
• A compact hand-held electronic blood-pressure device is also supplied for community visits outside the vehicle.

In addition to ergonomic improvements, every unit is fitted with electronic medical equipment, vaccine fridges that comply with cold-chain standards, and data connectivity for instant capture of patient information and medicine dispensing. Each mobile clinic is also equipped with a solar inverter, ensuring healthcare services are rendered optimally in any location.

Deliveries are being scheduled on a district-by-district basis. As each new unit is commissioned the outgoing vehicle will be retired, ensuring uninterrupted service to the communities that rely on mobile clinics for preventative care, vaccinations, basic curative services and the delivery of chronic medication.