Residents of Mbaula Ranch and Phalaubeni villages in Limpopo’s Mopani District have been eagerly awaiting the construction of a clinic by the Limpopo Department of Health since 1996. The villages have seen significant growth, with over 1000 households now residing in the area. However, the lack of a local healthcare facility has left residents feeling neglected and frustrated.
Accessing healthcare for residents in these villages is not only inconvenient but also costly. A round-trip taxi fare to the nearest clinic, Makhuva Clinic, which is 14km away, costs R22. If residents need to be referred to Nkhensani Hospital in Giyani, a 58km journey, the cost increases to almost R100 for a round trip. For the elderly residents who rely on their SASSA pension grants, this expense is a significant burden that forces them to prioritize transport over other essential needs.
Norah Bungelo, a 79-year-old resident, shared her struggles, stating, “I have lived here for over two decades without access to a clinic, and we have to travel to Giyani or Phalaborwa for healthcare, which is difficult. With the high cost of living, we are forced to use our SASSA grant money for transport, and I have to go monthly for a high blood pressure check-up.” Similarly, James Mthombeni, 83, expressed the community’s ongoing hope that the Department of Health will fulfill its promise of building a clinic in the area.
The challenges of accessing healthcare extend to maternity services as well, with women reporting that they often have to hire private transport at a cost of R500 if they go into labor at night. Public transport options are limited during nighttime hours, leading some women to give birth at home or en route to a health facility.
Residents are also disappointed that a ‘visiting point clinic’ in the area is no longer operational. These clinics provide temporary healthcare services in underserved communities where a permanent healthcare facility is lacking.
Despite promises made in the 2024/2025 budget for the Health Infrastructure Programme, which allocated R848.2 million for hospital revitalization, clinic construction, and maintenance, progress on building new clinics has been slow. The Limpopo Department of Health spokesperson, Neil Shikwambana, acknowledged the need for a clinic in Mbaula and other communities, stating, “There are many areas requiring new facilities as communities have grown significantly since then.” However, he could not provide a specific timeline for the construction of a new clinic.
The residents of Mbaula Ranch and Phalaubeni villages continue to wait for the much-needed healthcare facility that has been promised to them for over two decades. The lack of access to essential healthcare services not only impacts their well-being but also highlights the ongoing challenges faced by rural communities in South Africa. A new study has found that regular exercise may be even more beneficial for our mental health than previously thought. The study, published in the Journal of Psychiatry, looked at the relationship between physical activity and mental well-being in a large sample of adults.
The researchers found that individuals who engaged in regular exercise had significantly lower levels of depression and anxiety compared to those who were more sedentary. This was true across all age groups, genders, and levels of physical fitness.
One of the most interesting findings of the study was that the benefits of exercise on mental health were seen even at low levels of physical activity. This means that even light exercise, such as walking or gardening, can have a positive impact on our mental well-being.
The researchers also found that the type of exercise didn’t seem to matter as much as the frequency. Whether participants were engaging in aerobic exercise, strength training, or yoga, as long as they were doing it regularly, they saw improvements in their mental health.
These findings have important implications for public health initiatives aimed at improving mental well-being. Encouraging people to engage in regular physical activity may be a simple and effective way to reduce the prevalence of depression and anxiety in our society.
In addition to the mental health benefits, regular exercise has been shown to have numerous physical health benefits as well, such as reducing the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes. This makes it even more important for individuals to prioritize physical activity in their daily routines.
Overall, this study adds to the growing body of research that supports the idea that exercise is not just good for our bodies, but also for our minds. So next time you’re feeling stressed or down, consider going for a walk or hitting the gym – your mental health will thank you.
