Solar for a Clinic and Skills Centre in Swaziland

Maphiveni Clinic Has Solved At Least 5 Problems for Residents

If a stranger to Maphiveni had seen Emily talk and giggle while sitting on the bench with another woman, he or she wouldn’t have believed that she was actually a patient at a clinic. This is the kind of joy that Kudvumisa Foundation has brought to Maphiveni by establishing a clinic in the area.

“We want this clinic to grow and become a big hospital where we can be admitted!” says Emily, a cheerful 56 year-old woman from Maphiveni.

Although the clinic is yet to be completed, Emily already has an ambitious vision for her community. She wants the facility to grow into a fully-fledged hospital. Meanwhile, Emily couldn’t hide her relief at having a professionally run clinic in her neighborhood. With confidence she explained that apart from getting medical attention, the introduction of the clinic has solved many other problems ranging from transport money challenges, cost of lunch, and long hospital waiting periods. On top of that, the Maphiveni clinic has brought the residents a lot of convenience.

Firstly, the clinic is located deep inside rural Eswatini servicing mainly the poor and marginalized peasant farmers. Its location has given the needy population easy access to high quality medical assistance. This has come as a huge relief to the underprivileged villagers. Before they had a clinic at Maphiveni, the residents had to travel to Good Shepherd hospital some 50 km away, something that can be very taxing for a sick person. Therefore Maphiveni clinic has brought convenience as many people from the area just walk to the health center and get medical assistance whenever they want.

Apart from being convenient, the facility has helped residents like Emily who struggle to even have a decent meal per day to get medical attention without forking out a cent on transport. The truth is for most rural dwellers getting money for transport is a luxury and one would be very lucky if they are able to scrounge from their equally poor neighbours. That challenge according to Emily has been eliminated with the coming of the Kudvumisa clinic.

Another point that Emily highlighted is that before there was a clinic at Maphiveni she always needed money for lunch whenever she travelled to Good Shepherd hospital. But now the story has changed as the clinic is just a stone throw away from her home. “I no longer need money for maheu!” said the ecstatic Emily. Maheu is a local non-alcoholic beverage that qualifies as a food and drink combo because of its ingredients.

Last but not least, the new clinic at Maphiveni although it’s not yet fully functional has won the hearts of residents because of the efficient service being rendered by the staff.  Emily says that her average waiting time is between 15-20 minutes which is a relief for someone that was used to spending hours and hours waiting in a hospital queue.

Therefore the setting up of a clinic by Kudvumisa at Maphiveni has not only solved health access issues, but also helped the poverty stricken communities cut on transport costs, food costs and waiting time at health facilities.

Emily is grateful to everyone that is supporting Kudvumisa Foundation: “They have a good vision and without them we wouldn’t have this clinic. We thank them very much and may God bless them!”

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Trekking up the mountainside in Lomahasha, HIV testing supplies slung on their backs, determination in their step, and compassion in their hearts CHIPS medical team walk from homestead to homestead offering HIV treatment services (HTS) to the hard to reach communities in rural northeastern Swaziland. Reaching where the mobile medical clinic can’t, their footsteps take them on paths leading them hopefully to ears that are willing to listen to the life giving knowledge they have to offer.

Jabulile, 47 year-old mother of one living with her aging mom, life was forever changed by CHIPS door-to-door HTS outreach. Having never tested before for HIV, and after learning the importance of testing from the knowledgeable HTS counsellor, Jabulile allowed the CHIPS counsellor to administer her first HIV test in the comfort of her own home. Her test results coming back HIV positive.

Within the same hour the HTS counsellor was able to test Jabulile’s CD4 levels (immune system) to determine if she would soon need to start on ARV’s (treatment for HIV). Her CD4 level was 481, meaning her immune system was low and she was eligible to start ARV’s as soon as possible. On further investigation it was discovered Jabulile had oral thrush, a skin rash, and a painful case of vaginal warts. CHIPS was able to assist her with transport to Good Shepherd Hospital (an hour away) to see a doctor for the treatment of the opportunistic infections she was suffering from.

Within one week the CHIPS medical team had provided HIV and CD4 tests, transport to the hospital, counselling on HIV treatments, and Jabulile was then initiated on ARV’s in the privacy of her own home. Now six months later after starting ARV’s her infections have all healed and she is looking healthy and feeling good.

Jabulile said, “I am so happy about CHIPS coming to our community. I was able to get my health back without traveling a long way to the nearest clinic (a 30 minute trip on public transport). May the almighty God help CHIPS to grow and continue the good works they do to everyone in the kingdom of Swaziland.”

The Kudvumisa Clinic

This story shows the difference that access to care can make to an individual, a family and a community. The Kudvumisa Clinic in Maphiveni will step in to provide the care provided at Good Shepherd. Closer services mean more people can access them while decreasing tranport costs and helping to decongest Good Shepherd. Providing solar power at the clinic will reduce overall operating costs (electricity costs have doubled in the past three years). Less money spent on electricity means more money for standard and specialty in-house patient care!

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