STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE

September 2024.

To enhance healthcare access for farm workers and vulnerable communities, a new mobile health clinic vehicle has been donated to the Bedford and Adelaide communities. This initiative, funded by Cookhouse Wind Farm in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Cookhouse Wind Farm Community Trust, is part of a broader Primary Health Care Project aimed at providing free and accessible healthcare services to residents across 71 farms, addressing critical health needs in remote areas.

“The programme is designed to overcome the challenges faced by farm workers, who often work long hours and find it difficult to access healthcare services during standard clinic operating times. By bringing healthcare directly to their doorstep, the mobile clinic ensures that these workers no longer have to allocate a portion of their wages for transportation to distant clinics,” stated Lifa Baskiti, Community Liaison Officer for Cookhouse Wind Farm.

The mobile clinic, along with a ward-based outreach team, offers a range of services, including health education, medication administration, follow-ups, and referrals. The outreach team, consisting of two community health care workers stationed at the Nomakhwezi Makhenyane Clinic in Adelaide and the Nomzamo Clinic in Bedford, focuses on patients with mobility issues and those who are bedridden, ensuring that no one is left without the care they need.

Phumlani George, Mobile Clinic Supervisor and Nurse, expressed his gratitude to Cookhouse Wind Farm and the Cookhouse Wind Farm Community Trust, stating, “This upgrade is truly beneficial for our community. The new clinic is spacious, with two dedicated rooms, one for examinations and another for consultations, and equipped with top-quality equipment.”

By addressing these healthcare challenges, the initiative aims to improve the quality of life for farm workers and other vulnerable groups, who might otherwise be overlooked by traditional healthcare systems. The programme has already created five jobs, further contributing to the local economy.

“We’re grateful to have access to the mobile clinic now. Before, we had to wake up very early and hitchhike to the Adelaide clinic, often waiting for hours because other patients had pre-booked appointments. It was also expensive to travel there. This service has made a big difference,” said one community member.

The initiative was developed in response to a baseline study conducted in 2015, where community members expressed the urgent need for accessible healthcare services. Recognising the gaps in the current system, Cookhouse Wind Farm, in collaboration with the DOH and the Community Trust, stepped in to bridge this gap.

The vehicle donated by the Trust is dedicated exclusively to the Bedford and Adelaide areas, ensuring consistent and reliable service within the community. The Department of Health continues to support the initiative by providing medication and managing the vehicle as part of its fleet, while the Nightingale Care Trust funds the salaries of the primary healthcare staff.