Residents of Matjieskloof now have a clinic that better reflects their needs. A new facility at Matjieskloof Clinic is giving patients more space to be seen privately and treated with respect, while easing the pressure on the dedicated nurses who serve the community every day.
Until now, the clinic had a single consultation room. Patients, including mothers with babies and expectant mothers, often had to wait and be attended to in the same space, with little privacy. Nurses, who had no kitchen, were sometimes forced to eat in the consultation room.
“One of the biggest differences is that we no longer all have to sit in one room. At least now we can be treated in private rooms – giving us privacy and respect,” said a community member, who is already feeling the positive results of the new consultation rooms.
The new facility, which has been funded by Kangnas Wind Farm and handed over in partnership with the Northern Cape Department of Health, adds two consultation rooms, a bathroom and a dedicated kitchen. The clinic serves approximately 647 patients a month, so the extra space makes a real difference to how many people can be cared for, and how well.
The additional rooms allow staff to check vital signs, monitor conditions and dispense medication in greater privacy. That privacy has also encouraged more young people, particularly learners, to visit the clinic, an important step in helping the next generation take charge of their own health.
The project funding, part of the wind farm’s socio economic development programme, came about through direct engagement with the community, which identified the clinic’s limited infrastructure as a priority. The facility serves a vulnerable population, and the need for more space was clear.
“Access to quality healthcare is fundamental to community wellbeing. By supporting Matjieskloof Clinic with additional facilities, we hope to contribute to improved healthcare delivery and a better experience for both patients and the dedicated staff who serve them every day,” said Rouchet Daniels, Social Programme Manager for Kangnas Wind Farm.
