American Friends Of The Phelophepa Train (Afpt)

Phelophepa means…“Good, clean health” in Tswana and Sotho dialects. It operates two remarkable trains that travels around South Africa with doctors, dentists and nurses living aboard the train delivering primary health care to those in rural areas. The two trains deliver the highest quality, care and education to the underprivileged population while supporting, developing and educating students and communities. This cause has won global recognition for the innovative way in which it brings the best of modern medicine to remote rural areas in South Africa. This mobile service is not a stand-alone project; it forms an integral part of local community structures, supplementing or supporting existing facilities. The Cause/ History: The Phelophepa Health Care Train, established in 1994, initially operated with only three eye clinic coaches. By 1995, recognizing the need for a wider primary health care base it expanded services to include more comprehensive optometry, dental and psychological care. Now in its 20th year, the Phelophepa has grown from three cars to two impressive 18-car trains delivering primary health care, education and outreach programs including: HIV/AIDS education. Additional services include training community volunteers in basic healthcare and screening/educating local schoolchildren. Volunteer positions on board the Phelophepa Trains have become available to US medical students, university faculty and other medical professionals. The volunteer positions are available for the 2015 season (May to September) for a period of 2 weeks and they form part of a pilot proposal to test the feasibility of a permanent US medical work-abroad program on board these remarkable ‘Trains of Hope’. Would you like to volunteer? http://trainofhope.org/medical-volunteers-needed/