In the heart of Mpumalanga province, South Africa, lies the town of Acornhoek. This is a bustling cauldron of humanity – some may even say an overflowing cauldron. Many of the million or so residents of the town and surrounding areas are unemployed and due to a floundering, albeit committed public health care service, they have limited access to quality and essential healthcare. This is exacerbated by a rough estimate that 84% of South Africans depend on public healthcare, only 30% of doctors work in public healthcare and of that only 12% work in rural areas! This is where the Tshemba Foundation steps in, acting as a vital lifeline for historically disadvantaged communities in conjunction with the Department of Health.
Founded on the principle of volunteerism the Tshemba Foundation, bridges a gap in rural healthcare by bringing skilled local and international medical professionals from across the globe to serve the Acornhoek and surrounding areas.
“The lack of doctors and specialists in rural areas like Acornhoek is a significant problem, and the volunteer program allows us to address this by bringing experienced doctors to the region, offering a wider range of services for patients,” says Godfrey Phillips, Director, and Co-Founder of the Tshemba Foundation.
The foundation boasts a continual turnover of a diverse team of volunteers, including surgeons, specialists like ophthalmologists, general practitioners, physiotherapists, dieticians, and occupational therapists. This breadth of expertise allows them to tackle a multitude of healthcare issues prevalent in the community.
The Tshemba Foundation’s success hinges on these dedicated volunteers, many of whom return time and again, driven by the desire to make a tangible difference. For some it’s a life changing experience, incredibly inspirational and the gratitude and appreciation seen in the eyes of patients always leaves an indelible stamp on those that experience it.
Volunteers are sourced in multiple ways – through LinkedIn, on Google search, and because of the volunteer’s life changing experiences, networking by past volunteers recommending coming to Hoedspruit, has become quite effective now! Volunteers come from all over the world, Australia to the Netherlands, and from Singapore to Brazil. All medical volunteers are registered through the Health Professions Council, allowing them to work as a volunteer in the medical field.
Projects and programs
There are numerous programs that the Tshemba Foundation has in operation, from the outreach program, the primary health care clinics, the Woman’s Clinic, and other projects.
The outreach program operates in parallel to all the other help, and consists of vision screening, but also dental and audio screening – part of which consists of health talks and medical education across the spectrum of speciality – an important focus of the foundation.
Another area of focus is women’s health, some of which is in collaboration with the Breast Health Foundation. Cervical cancer, breast cancer, and sexually transmitted diseases are major concerns for women in Acornhoek. Through the dedicated women’s health program, volunteer specialists provide essential care and education, promoting early detection and preventative measures.
Interestingly the most common ailment in this area in children is vernal keratoconjunctivitis or VKC – this is like an allergic reaction on the external ocular surface. It expresses itself as very itchy eyes, photophobia, mucous discharge, and blurred vision. If the eyes are rubbed too hard it can cause cornea deformity and even blindness. About 50% of children in the area suffer from this condition.
The foundation goes beyond simply providing a wide range of medical services and treatments. Recognizing the language barrier as a potential hurdle, they’ve implemented a “nurse communicator” program. Local nurses bridge the gap between patients and volunteer doctors, ensuring clear communication and fostering trust. This not only enhances patient care but also empowers local nurses by providing valuable on-the-job training.
Foundation impact and challenges
The foundation’s impact extends beyond the walls of hospitals and clinics. Their holistic approach to healthcare allows them to work closely with the community to address social determinants of health, with the view of creating a healthier environment for everyone.
The story of the Tshemba Foundation is one of resilience, collaboration, and unwavering dedication to improving lives. By harnessing the power of volunteerism and fostering a spirit of community, they are etching a brighter future for the healthcare landscape in Acornhoek, one consultation, one surgery, and one life touched at a time.
However, challenges remain. The foundation is constantly striving to expand its volunteer network (currently constrained by accommodation availability, and the capacity of hospitals and clinics) – the target is twelve volunteers at a time. There is also a drive to secure funding, something that has not been a real focus for the foundation. Of course, there is always a continual requirement for vital medical equipment and infrastructure upgrades, which demands extra funding which is fast become a restriction to growth. Some mistakes have been made along the way, but the foundation has embraced those and battled their way through them, and come out stronger, wiser, and more effective.
Despite these hurdles, the Tshemba Foundation embodies the spirit of Ubuntu – “humanity towards others.” To date the foundation has achieved over 11 000 healthcare professional days, welcomed over 309 global volunteers, has done 3218 theatre procedures, over 57 372 patients have been treated and over 2 110 school screenings have been done. Last year the foundation surpassed their 1000’th cataract procedure performed, keeping in mind that during covid they could not continue these procedures. To date they have performed 1116 cataract procedures! This is a testament to the transformative power of collective action, and an inspiration for others seeking to bridge the healthcare gap in underserved communities.
If anyone or organisation is interested in helping to try and address the many community health needs, donations in terms of money or medical equipment are always very much appreciated. The person to contact in this regard is the CEO Barbara Mcgorian at barbara@tshembafoundation.org.
