Medical outreach brings healthcare to remote farming community

Residents of the Vlakteplaas community, just outside De Rust, received much-needed medical care when Pediatric Care Africa (PCA) hosted a medical outreach at Vlakteplaas Primary School on Saturday, 25 July.

Despite the cold weather, a dedicated team of healthcare professionals and volunteers gathered to provide free primary healthcare services to children and adults living in the remote farming community. Patients received medical examinations, treatment, and medication where required.

According to Dr André Hattingh, founder and CEO of Pediatric Care Africa, the organisation remains committed to ensuring that healthcare reaches those who need it most.

“The area we visited is about 50 km from the nearest government hospital, and our patients consist mainly of farm workers and their families,” said Dr Hattingh.

“The distance from a hospital and a lack of transport make it very difficult for especially children and the elderly to receive professional medical treatment. By taking healthcare directly to these communities, we are able to remove some of those barriers and ensure that people receive the care they need,” he added.

In addition to receiving medical care, all patients were treated to hot soup, a hotdog and a cooldrink, and were given a blanket to help keep out the cold.

The outreach formed part of PCA’s ongoing programme to improve access to healthcare in rural and underserved communities across the Klein Karoo. Medical outreaches are typically held at local schools, making it easier for families to access healthcare without travelling long distances.

PCA thanked the healthcare professionals and volunteers who gave up their Saturday morning to serve the community, as well as Vlakteplaas Primary School for hosting the outreach.

The organisation also expressed its appreciation to everyone whose support helped make the initiative possible.

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