Retired boxes extend clinic

IT WAS a first-aid box with a difference when Safmarine recently donated three 12m shipping containers which were converted into consulting rooms at the overcrowded Kliptown Clinic in Eldorado Park.
Before the donation of the containers, the clinic consisted of only three consulting rooms which had to serve the medical needs of approximately 34 000 patients per year.
As a result, each consulting room was used by about 125 patients per day, with patients often attended to simultaneously. With the establishment of a number of informal settlements around Eldorado Park, the clinic population increased to nearly 100 000. It was clear that the existing structure would not be able to cope with the growing population.
Three retired shipping containers were donated and converted by Safmarine at a cost of approximately R80 000. The new consulting rooms are completely roofed, fully insulated and include windows, doors and vinyl flooring. The company also donated a computer for the clinic to enable medical staff to collate and capture patients' medical data efficiently. This project is one of a number of similar projects which form part of Safmarine's Containers-in-the-Community programme. Safmarine has, since 1992, donated nearly 5000 retired shipping containers to over 1000 education, health, community development, environmental and job-creation projects throughout the country.