The trains of hope – that is what the Phelophepa Healthcare Trains, the world’s first primary healthcare hospitals on wheels, are known as. The trains make quality medical care accessible to South Africa’s most remote communities, where there is often only a single doctor for every 5 000 people. By providing direct healthcare services as well as education on primary healthcare, the trains have been providing essential care to millions of people for over two decades.
The Phelophepa Healthcare Trains comprise two trains that use existing rail infrastructure to deliver vital health-care services to South Africans in remote, rural areas who would otherwise not have access to a doctor or even be aware they had a health problem.
The Phelophepa Healthcare Trains run simultaneously from January to October each year
Services four provinces each
Both trains boast 19 fully refurbished and equipped coaches
Both trains were custom designed and built by Transnet Engineering, an operating division of Transnet SOC Ltd.
More than 40 permanent staff and numerous final year students and community volunteers work on the trains.
Advance teams of community social mobilisers are sent out at least two months before the trains’ arrival to alert the community of the arrival of the train and spread the message that Phelophepa is on the way! They provide advance messages which educate communities about the availability of its services. The health and psychology based activities offered by the trains are two-fold: providing on-board health services through its five clinics, and outreach programmes that take the services offered by the train to the wider community.
1st Train launched in January
3 carriage eye clinic
Collaboration between University of Johannesburg and Transnet optometry department
Using rail infrastructure to increase healthcare services
Equipped with on-board support services with a kitchen, dining car and accommodation facilities for students and staff
2nd Train launched in March
Health Awareness Campaigns
Using innovative technologies and communications mechanisms to increase the awareness, education and early detection of life threatening cancers and diabetes in communities.
Each train provides a host of screening and healthcare services through their five clinics:
• Focuses on quality primary patient care and health education initiatives
• Screening for diabetes, high blood pressure, cervical and prostate cancer
• Provides treatment for common illnesses and ailments
• Services include general oral health screening, dental cleaning and oral hygiene education as well as basic restorative procedures (fillings) and extractions.
• Outreach visits to local schools to screen learners for dental problems and to promote oral health.
• Comprehensive eye tests and treatment
• Prescription glasses available with immediate, one-day processing
• Educates community volunteers in preventive health care at each stop along the journey.
• Equips individuals with essential skills to continue supporting their community's health needs well beyond the train's departure.
• Offers a secure and private setting for individuals to discuss daily struggles and traumatic events with skilled counselors.
• Serves as an important connection to local psychologists, social workers, and additional experts for ongoing support.
• Dispenses medication up to Schedule 4 to patients.
26 Feb - 01 March
04 March - 08 March
11 March - 15 March
18 March - 22 March
25 March - 28 March
08 April - 12 April
15 April - 19 April
22 April - 26 April
29 April - 03 May
06 May - 10 May
13 May - 17 May
20 May - 24 May
27 May - 31 May
03 June - 07 June
15 April - 19 April
17 June - 21 June
24 June - 28 June
01 July - 05 July
08 July - 12 July
15 July - 19 July
22 July - 26 July
29 July - 02 Aug
05 Aug - 09 Aug
12 Aug - 16 Aug
19 Aug - 23 Aug
26 Aug - 30 Aug
02 Sept - 06 Sept
09 Sept - 13 Sept
16 Sept - 20 Sept
23 Sept - 27 Sept
30 Sept - 04 Oct
07 Oct - 11 Oct
14 Oct - 18 Oct
22 jan - 26 jan
29 Jan - 02 Feb
05 Feb - 09 Feb
12 Feb - 16 Feb
19 Feb - 23 Feb
26 Feb - 01 March
04 March - 08 March
11 March - 15 March
18 March - 22 March
25 March - 28 March
08 April - 12 April
15 April - 19 April
22 April - 26 April
29 April - 03 May
06 May - 10 May
13 May - 17 May
20 May - 24 May
27 May - 31 May
03 June - 07 June
10 June - 14 June
17 June - 21 June
24 June - 28 June
01 July - 05 July
08 July - 12 July
15 July - 19 July
22 July - 26 July
29 July - 02 Aug
05 Aug - 09 Aug
12 Aug - 16 Aug
19 Aug - 23 Aug
26 Aug - 30 Aug
02 Sept - 06 Sept
09 Sept - 13 Sept
16 Sept - 20 Sept
23 Sept - 27 Sept
30 Sept - 04 Oct
07 Oct - 11 Oct
14 Oct - 18 Oct