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Case studies
Bhubezi makes a difference
Dr Gilbert Khosa reading a digital X-ray at the Bhubezi community health centre at Bushbuckridge
The Bhubezi Community Healthcare Centre in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, is delivering on its promise to alleviate the ravaging effects of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria within the local community.
The facility was established in 2007 after Anglo Thermal Coal, Virgin Unite and the United States Government joined hands to provide rural people with access to primary health care facilities, something that had been sorely lacking in the past.
Since its inception, it has seen almost 35,000 patients, with as many as 200 people visiting per day. Almost 2,900 patients have been provided with free Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART), which makes it possible for them to lead healthy and productive lives despite their HIV-positive status.
Impact
"The clinic has made a huge impact on the communities we serve. Before it was opened, people had to travel between 80 and 110 kilometres to the nearest ART clinics. As the level of poverty here is high, many died because they could not afford the fare," says Bhubezi medical director Dr Gilbert Khosa.
"The number of funerals in the area has also gone down significantly. In my village, for example, we used to have between two and four funerals every weekend. Now one or two weekends pass without one," he says.
Apart from administering treatment, the clinic is doing much to stem the tide of new infections. The Bhubezi AIDS Awareness Programme holds community events that address HIV infection, prevention and the importance of Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT), while marketing the varied health services provided by the centre. Operating areas include Lillydale, Mkhuhlu and other villages within a 30 kilometre radius of the clinic, and services have been extended to farm areas around Hazyview as well as local lodges and national parks.
"The number of people undergoing VCT at the clinic and at community events is increasing and indicates that our awareness programme is achieving its goal and we are slowly dismantling the stigma of HIV," says Dr Khosa, adding that the clinic has given people living with HIV and AIDS hope that they can fulfil their dreams and lead a fruitful life.
"I have lost many friends and relatives to HIV/AIDS, and was very happy when I was given an opportunity to work at Bhubezi. My dream was always to work in my community and this is a chance for me to contribute meaningfully. When ordinary people compliment the clinic for all the good work it is doing, it makes one realise that despite all the challenges we face, we are changing people's lives for the better."
"There will never be any words to express my appreciation to those who came up with the idea of starting this clinic. They are heroes in our community."
The centre currently employs 56 local people and is based on a programme devised by Dutch social entrepreneur Dr Hugo Tempelman, CEO of the Ndlovu Care Group. Ndlovu is another NGO Anglo Thermal Coal works closely with, and has developed a sustainable model for delivering high quality health, childcare and development services in rural communities.
In the future, Bhubezi will operate on a 24-hour basis, and will extend its activities into community development programmes that aid job creation. Examples of these include food gardens, computer literacy training, and entrepreneurial skills development.
Anglo Thermal Coal's commitment
Many of those who reside close to the centre are family members of Anglo Thermal Coal employees, a fact that prompted the company to invest both capital and management support into this life-changing public-private partnership.
It ploughed R5 million into the development of the centre, and pledged an additional R1 million annually over five years to cover management costs. It has also shared many of the learnings from its own successful HIV and AIDS management programme.
