Those sporting friendly faces at the Klapmuts Medical Centre have dedicated themselves to bridging the gap for locals seeking medical attention among stretched state clinics or faraway facilities since last July.
In Klapmuts, it’s commonplace for many to choose to rather suffer in silence at home.
“We have had so many patients tell us they preferred to remain ill at home rather than seek basic care, which does not serve them too well,” says Dr John Firth, a general practitioner who co-founded the practice with Dr André van der Merwe.
Firth holds nothing against state clinics and respects the challenges these facilities suffer with limited resources.
“The demand is so high, and patients are generally forced to pay three taxi fares just to reach hospitals in Paarl or Wellington.
“Luckily, we now offer the community a clean, safe and affordable medical centre in the heart of Klapmuts.”
The Klapmuts Medical Centre offers competitive rates for low-income households of R450 per consultation that also includes prescribed medications.
It also has special days focusing on skin grafting, which is not offered by state medical clinics. “Our patients regard this a family practice,” Firth pointed out.
Van der Merwe, incidentally, is married to Firth’s twin sister. Both achieved their medical degrees from Stellenbosch University.
Originally from Cape Town, Firth has practised medicine since 2011, and his last position was at a GP practice in Cape Town, having previously managed a casualty section in Durban from 2014 to 2015.
Van der Merwe previously practised at a private hospital. Both interned together at hospitals in East London while completing their medical studies.
“We also work as the official doctors for the Bishop Lavis Police Academy [in Bishop Lavis] as a sideline. We do the academy students’ medical checks and official medical reports for trainees, and tend to any on-site injuries.”
Regarding the motivation for opening the medical centre, Van der Merwe explained: “We simply saw a gap in existing availability of medical services in Klapmuts and surrounding areas.”
What’s more, the centre also seeks to grow its outreach to the wider Klapmuts community.
The first project is a vegetable garden that is being established adjacent to the medical centre to grow nutritious vegetables for needy patients.
“This building was previously part of the old honey factory in town,” Van der Merwe explained.
“After we managed to get our practice registered and completed a six-month course to get our medical dispensing licence, it was just a matter of renting the property and setting up shop. With the available land, we have we partnered with experienced local green thumbs EPJ Kleinboerdery.”
The organisation was established by Piet Prins, Jeremy van Kerwel, Jakobus Dirkse and Eron Jantjies in October last year.
Chairperson Prins said the organisation has created an already thriving veggie garden at the Klapmuts Primary School since it was founded.
“This is also thanks to so many farmers’ and businesses’ support. Now the Klapmuts Medical Centre has given us land to expand our veggie growing power even more,” he pointed out.
“We are extremely grateful to the centre for also helping us support it in providing healthy foods for those in need. We plan to grow cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, corn and much more.”
These modest men have already planted vegetables in one corner of the centre’s property, although the garden is still in the development stages.
“We are now busy working the soil to prepare the land for more veggie crops. This would require some more ploughing with diggers, tractors and materials, which we also humbly request from willing farmers and local businesses.”
With this initiative, Firth wishes to promote a healthy way of living for Klapmuts.
“This community mostly suffers from chronic lifestyle illnesses like cholesterol and high-blood pressure,” he pointed out.
“These illnesses are directly related to diet, which is why we wish to highlight this initiative. It’s also why we’re so excited to get the vegetable garden rolled out and, even more excited, to create learning opportunities for people to start growing their own fresh produce.”
He also believes that today’s youth are too disconnected from their food sources.
“We plan to host regular workshops to promote healthy living, eating and growing healthy and affordable foods,” Firth added.
Not only are these doctors focused on physical well-being, but also have a passion for psychological and mental illness.
Said Frith: “We get a lot of patients who suffer from violence or neglect, like stabbings, farm-related accidents, drug abuse and alcoholism. That is why I also want to use my passion for patients with underlying anxiety, trauma and psychological distress.”
. For more information on the Klapmuts Medical Centre, contact the practice on 079 727 3042, or visit it at its location, 82 Old Paarl Road, Klapmuts.
