South Africa is a large country with approximately 42 million people living in rural and urban areas of the nine provinces. The transport used in rendering health care services by private sector and non-profit organizations assists in ensuring that every citizen of this country receives primary health care. To celebrate these innovative transport systems, the South African Post Office issued a set of stamps on 2 May 2006. The stamp designs were not readily available for download until now. Fifty-thousand sheets in all have been printed and the stamps come in a variety of ways. Stamp set, control block, and sheets come both mint or available with cancel.
The Phelophepa Health Care Train was used for the first time in 1994. It is the first train in the world to provide primary health care to rural people. Today the train has about 16 coaches that boast a modern communication network, an industrial kitchen serving more than 40,000 meals during the 36 week period while the 15 professional staff members living on the train render health care services in rural communities. Care is provided in the fields of optometry, nursing, dentistry, psychology, pharmaceutical as well as tourism and hospitality studies.
The Pilatus PC12 Fixed Wing (used by the SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service) provides emergency aero-medical services and inter-hospital transfers to hundreds of critically ill or injured patients each year. A 24 hour flying ambulance, each aircraft is equipped with an Advanced Life Support interior, is pressurised and has a capacity of up to three stretchers. The aircraft is also used for the Flying Doctor and Health Outreach Service, which flies healthcare professionals to remote areas, where flying is not a luxury but a lifeline. Doctors, nurses, dentists, specialists and allied healthcare workers – many of whom are volunteers – visit rural hospitals to render clinical services to thousands of patients each year.
The AS350 “Squirrel” air ambulance and rescue helicopters (used by the SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service) are crewed by teams of specially trained pilots, flight paramedics, doctors and volunteer rescue specialists. During the golden hour – when a rapid response can make a difference between life and death – these brave men and women save patients from life-threatening situations and provide Advanced Life Support (ALS) at the scene or in the air. Each aircraft is equipped with a state-of-the-art ALS medical interior and can be configured with rescue capability (hoist and sling) for mountain/surf rescues
The eRanger ambulance is designed to be used in remote rural areas as an ambulance stretcher, mobile clinic, water-purifier and audio-visual education unit. The motorcycle comprises side-mounted stretchers and five motorcycle immunisation units designed specifically for outreach work in rural areas with many features to help local medical staff carry out their work in conditions similar to a permanent clinic. The motorcycle can carry two people and all the necessary equipment to set up a mobile clinic. It is designed to reach areas that may be inaccessible by a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
The St John ambulance service is operating throughout the world offering first-aid care. It has also developed ophthalmic and dental care, primary health care, youth programmes, relief work and disaster planning. In South Africa, the St John ambulance offers home care training to commercial and industrial schools, government departments, the military and the general public. It has also established 15 eye care clinics in South Africa’s major cities.
The hand grip is the most secure and slip-free way for nursing staff to lift a weak patient. The power of patient and nurse is combined and however weak the patient, this system prevents slip. The patient feels more secure because he or she participates in the lifting process.
