AFTER hearing their plea for additional space to better care for their patients, the Al-Fidaa Foundation recently donated a mobile clinic to the Linton Grange Clinic, which will be used for paediatric services and health care services for pregnant women in the area.
Mohammed Matvad, public relations officer for the Al-Fidaa Foundation, said, the registered non-profit and public benefit organisation, was formed in 2008 to assist the needy in the Eastern Cape through skills development, food security, health care and emotional support programmes.
He said after receiving a request from the nursing staff at Linton Grange Clinic for assistance with additional space to serve patients, the foundation decided to donate their mobile clinic, which is equipped with a reception area and two consulting rooms, each with its own basin and running water.
In addition, the mobile clinic also has electricity and windows for ventilation.
“The patients who make use of the clinic include pensioners and (mothers with) babies, who often have to withstand harsh weather conditions while they wait outside until it is their turn to be seen to,” said Matvad.
He said the mobile clinic, which was temporarily used by the Malabar Clinic to provide healthcare services to patients from the Helenvale Clinic, will now be used as an additional area for the Linton Grange Clinic staff to provide the necessary services to their patients.
Matvad said the Linton Grange Clinic hoped to utilise the mobile clinic for their paediatric patients and to provide immunisations for babies.
“The clinic has been battling with a lack of space, which has been hampering their services to the patients. We therefore hope that the mobile clinic will bolster the welfare and protection of the paediatric patients visiting the clinic,” he said.
Matvad further said his foundation would love to donate mobile clinics throughout Nelson Mandela Bay, with the support of corporations and business owners.
According to Sister Ronnel Lackay, the Linton Grange Clinic currently has five consulting rooms, which are used to offer various health care services to approximately 100 people from 07:30 to 16:00 every day.
Of the 23 staff members, the clinic’s doctor is on the premises three days a week, the dietician once every second week and the physiotherapist once a month, all of whom need their own consulting room.
“As the area grew, the demand for healthcare services grew as well.
“Space is our greatest challenge, which results in a delay of certain services,” said Lackay.
She therefore hopes to use the mobile clinic for paediatric services and possibly offer health care services to pregnant women, which will lighten the load within the clinic.
“The babies and pregnant women fall under the vulnerable group and it is better to offer their services at a designated area,” said Lackay.
She said the donation of the mobile clinic meant a lot to the clinic.
“The mobile clinic has lifted the spirit of the staff because now there is a bit more space and privacy to offer services to the patients,” said Lackay.
