Page 23 - 25 Reasons

Care for community

The new clinic in Postmasburg, where Anglo American’s iron ore business, Kumba Iron Ore operates Kolomela mine
By Biénne Huisman linoleum, with large windows and plastic chairs in
waiting areas. It also has a medicine dispensary
ormer Public Protector Thuli Madonsela and pharmacist on site.
described Postmasburg Hospital in the Speaking to Matilo, the clinic’s facilities
FNorthern Cape as “one of the worst” manager, Sister Mary-Louise Vos, smiles and
healthcare facilities she had seen. ushers us inside. The clinic’s services include baby
Madonsela visited the 45-bed hospital in 2013 immunisations, family planning, diabetic
after complaints from the town’s residents. She treatment, and antiretroviral and tuberculosis
was dismayed to learn that the hospital had only programmes for about 2 300 patients a month.
one doctor on duty – two others had resigned in It has six consulting rooms, which is a far cry
previous months. A big problem, she learnt, was from the previous situation at the old hospital.
staff quarters – the lone doctor lived in a Vos says: “In those days, we had to do primary
converted garage. and secondary healthcare in that one building.
Today – thanks to a R40 million community There weren’t even proper divisions between the
investment from Kumba Iron Ore, Anglo Sister Mary-Louise Vos is the facilities consulting rooms, so patients had no privacy.”
American’s iron ore business, which operates manager at the new clinic in Postmasburg Across a parking lot from the clinic, more
Kolomela mine near the town – this has changed. PHOTO: BIÉNNE HUISMAN newly erected rooms offer counselling to victims
Kolomela is one of the company’s newest of domestic violence and substance abuse.
mining operations – it started business in 2011. Matilo says: “We realised that there are many
In the same year, Stats SA’s census found that social problems in the local community, so we
Postmasburg – located 170km east of Upington – decided to partner with nongovernmental
had a population of 30 000. Residents spoke organisations to establish a trauma and drug and
mostly Afrikaans (16 000) and Setswana (10 000); alcohol abuse centre.”
and unemployment and associated social ills Walking around the grounds, Matilo points out
plagued the community. two large vehicles marked: Mobile Clinics –
George Benjamin, the public affairs manager at sponsored by Kolomela Mine.
Kolomela, says investing in community upliftment “These are important for taking healthcare into
has been a priority at the mine: “Postmasburg is the surrounding rural communities, to people
an old established town with a relatively young who cannot travel to the healthcare complex,” he
mine, hence the social and economic landscape says. “Before this, people travelled 30km or more
was not great. Our focus is to leave a positive to get here.”
legacy that will benefit the communities even Another vehicle parked under a nearby thorn
beyond the existence of the mine. tree is marked: Northern Cape Rescue Response –
“The healthcare sector in the area was faced donated by Kumba Iron Ore.
with challenges, so it was one of the key areas Matilo says the approach to healthcare was
that required a boost towards improving quality systematic with three focus areas – construction
public healthcare services, hence our decision to Keaobaka Matilo, specialist in social and of a primary healthcare facility and mobile
prioritise it.” economic development healthcare for rural areas; retention and attraction
During a tour of the new Postmasburg of key health professionals as well as construction
healthcare complex, Keaobaka Matilo, specialist in The complex includes the old district hospital – of doctors’ living units; and a focus on secondary
social and economic development at Kolomela the facility that so horrified Madonsela – in which healthcare, which includes the hospital upgrade.
mine, glows with enthusiasm. the paediatrics ward and its casualty section has Matilo notes too that the new facility has also
“We built the fence around the complex, and been upgraded. A theatre section will be refitted created jobs: “It was critical for us to provide all
we also did the security and lighting to enhance with modern equipment after construction is the necessary healthcare services in one central
security at the complex,” he says, pointing at a completed in August 2019. place. This brought relief to people in
steel fence perimeter. At the gate, a security Next to the hospital, a new clinic has been Postmasburg and the villages around it, but it
guard checks the boots of cars entering and built, with flowerbeds flanking its entrance. The also created jobs for nurses and drivers of the
leaving the premises to ensure patients’ security. clinic’s corridors are lined with clean blue mobile clinics.”
ANGLO AMERICAN 25 REASONS TO BELIEVE 23