The poor access farm workers and the community of Tshakuma have had to decent medical facilities up to now, is hopefully something of the past. The provincial Department of Health saw it fit to build a new health facility in Levubu that will render a 24-hour service to more than 10 000 community members.

Cllr Mavhungu Luruli, mayor of Makhado Municipality, officially opened the Levubu Clinic a fortnight ago. In her address she said that the provision of accessible, affordable and equitable comprehensive primary health care services to communities is essential.

“The Public Health Care Programme (PHP) has been expanded significantly, with more than 1600 clinics being built countrywide,” said Leruli. According to her, the Levubu Clinic is important and the services which the staff provides are very important, “but community members must also play their part in taking care of the clinic and also by living healthy.”

Leruli encouraged community members during this event to eat healthy food in order to keep their bodies healthy. “Good nutrition is essential for good health. It is advisable that people must also engage in exercising,” she said.

One of the farm workers who spoke to Mirror, Mr John Mudau, said that it was very risky to work on a farm, knowing that if one gets injured he will not get medical assistance in time. “We are happy now that the government has realised that there is a need for us to get a health facility,” he said. “The time for us to travel long distances to Tshilidzini Hospital to access medical assistance is now a thing of the past,” Mudau said happily.