Ncambele Residents Build Their Own Clinic

After a long wait, more than ten rural villages around Ncambele, Kokstad, KwaZulu Natal, will soon have proper health services within walking distance. Kwanjungwa, Manqarholweni, Madlathu, Nqumarheni, Phumamuncu, Mpola, Ntshongo and Nkampini are amongst the 14 villages set to benefit from Ncambele residential clinic.

Officially opened last Wednesday, 27 November by the Department of Health, the clinic structure has been built by the residents. This, after numerous fruitless attempts, to get the department of health to construct a fully operational clinic to service this area. Singing, dancing and drum majorettes ushered-in ward 10’s Nkosi Mzoxolo Sethuse, who graced the opening ceremony. Proud of their achievement, jouyous villagers prepared a feast to celebrate this day. World Vision officials in Umzimkhulu, provincial Department of Health officials, together with regional managers in the Ward 10 district and traditional leaders, led the historical event. “I want to thank residents here for their hard work and dedication to the betterment of their lives. As the Department we are proud to confirm that people of Ward 10, do not need a push, they make things happen on their own,” commented Str Nosipho Dlamini of Department of Health.

The process to build the three room structure was initiated by World Vision’s development worker in Umzimkhulu, Mhlanganisi Mazongolo. This after he noticed the suffering of the children and community members to access basic health services. “I contacted the local Department of Health, informing them about the suffering I see in this community, I was told the Department has no plans to build a clinic in this area for now, thus I decided to mobilise the community members to build the structure,’’ said Mazongolo.
Residents in this impoverished area have been walking a long distance to neighbouring Gawuli and Mhleza clinics. “The past years have been very difficult for us. Walking close to two hours to a clinic, carrying a baby on your back is no child’s play, more especially for us the elderly,” said Octavia Ndzimande, carrying her grandson on her back.
One Ncambele resident and Pastor, Mdalwa Zangwa, said having a clinic would be the best development for the community.
“I feel very happy and welcome this development. We will no longer have to walk long distances to access health services. I cannot believe that from now onwards we will no longer have to worry about long walks in rainy and sunny weather,” said Pst Zangwa adding many of the residents are unemployed and could not afford to hire a car during emergencies. Now the only prayer for the people of Ncambele is for the Department of Health to deploy health workers that will render quality services in these communities, and have medication.
“At Mhleza clinic, we are sometimes told that there is no medication after walking long distances,”said one of the community members
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