During an ongoing pandemic, we’re reminded that access to healthcare is crucial. Yet with 43% of the South African population living in rural areas without hospitals nearby, it instead becomes a privilege. A lack of funds, time, and transport to seek treatment render these communities even more vulnerable to disease. But beside a taxi rank, one nurse is improving the system.
While working at government clinics, Mandisa Swarts began to notice the damage that inaccessible healthcare had on her patients. “People who live far away often come in with worse symptoms because they leave it so late,” Swarts says. To put an end to their suffering, Swarts, along with the Cipla Foundation and The Greater Tygerberg Partnership, launched the Sha’p Left centre beside a taxi rank in Bellville. The nurse-driven hub provides affordable healthcare services, eye care, as well as a chronic medication pick-up point for commuters hopping on and off taxis. “We chose this site because it is at a transport node with incredibly high volumes of people passing through,” Swarts says.
Since its opening in 2019, the facility has treated thousands of patients and reduced the impact of illness and chronic diseases in disadvantaged areas. The clinic's population-based and cost-aware ethos continues to create a system that’s inclusive for all South Africans, not just the fortunate few. In a time of great uncertainty, Swarts and her team are ensuring that everyone receives the care they deserve.
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