A visit to ASM Clinic in Msholozi- Day 4 - Thursday 20 February

Eve writes...

Elmarie one of the founders of the 
El Roi Clinic in Msholozi

Today we visited ASM Clinic (El Roi) in Msholozi. We started off with an exciting tour and some interesting history of the clinic  which was shared with us by one of its founders, a courageous woman named Elmarie. 

[Editor's note: Msholozi is an informal settlement on the outskirts of White River, a town which is a few miles from where we are staying with Hands at Work. 
The name 'El Roi' is given to the clinic as it is taken from a verse in the Bible - Genesis 16:13 Where a woman in need receives help from God and gives God the name 'You are the God who sees me'  (El Roi in the original language).  The name and work of the clinic encourages people to believe that God sees their needs and helps them.]

We learned it had taken around 10 years to set up the clinic where it is now, as it had been forced to move locations three times until the present site was found and the clinic was built. 

Paula and Erin with one of the patients

  We went round collecting coffee orders from
  the nurses, to keep them going through the
  day, as Eleanor and Erin made the coffees.
  Once we had finished a few of us
  played with the children while the rest went on
  a home visit. The children did finger painting
 and popped bubbles that we blew for them.

One of the consulting rooms

There weren’t many children there because of the rain this morning, but those who did come seemed to enjoy the activities we did with them whilst the nurses were able to focus on their hard work helping the patients medical needs. One family had recently lost everything they owned in a fire, so the nurses gave them some clothes and maize-meal porridge they had collected from donations.

-Eve Crutchley

Eleanor writes...

Today at the heath clinic Izzy, me and Jess along with Richard went to a home visit to a man who was previously bed bound with his illness. The ASM clinic had been to visit him one or two weeks ago and saw him in the bad condition he was in, so the clinic prescribed some medicine for him to make him better.

 

On our way to visit a patient
to and take him to the clinic

When we visited today the man was able to walk which previously he wasn’t, its very positive to see that the ASM clinic is making a great difference to peoples lives and health issues. We took the man back to the clinic for his checkup after his medicine prescription. The clinic help a variety of adults, mothers and children with their health problems which is important because many had to travel to mobile clinic which could be very far. In some cases people weren’t able to walk due to health issues which stops them from getting the treatment they need. This is why health clinics like ASM are so important to the community

-Eleanor Cowing

The roads in Msholozi are not in good condition and the rain had made them even more tricky... The team did really well again