Dental Tribune South African Edition

3Local NewsDental Tribune South African Edition - October 2013 (continued from Page 1) The clinics come with awnings to provide shade to patients waiting outside and a TV in a secure housing on the outside of the truck which plays educational videos for the waiting patients on healthcare and health awareness. A water tank and built in compressor are also features of the clinics so that the mobile clinic is a self-sustaining unit. A mobile dental clinic for example will include; a dental chair, dental light, an x-ray unit and x-ray developer which are also digital now for instantaneous viewing, W&H hand pieces set, autoclave, mobile suction unit, cordless curing light, digital amalgamator, water distiller, cabinets to house equipment, a sink and cold water tap (connected to a water tank at the bottom of the clinic), fridge, a dental unit with 2 hand pieces, manual controls and a 3 in 1 syringe as well as a compressor to supply air and clean water to the unit. In effect, Istrodent mobile dental clinics are fully functional practices and even come with air-conditioners to provide a comfortable environment for both the patient and dental practitioner. In addition, special UV disinfectant lights are fitted inside the clinics to assist with disinfection, killing germs and bacteria. A mobile clinic requires minimum maintenance from Istrodent once they are out on the road and are basically maintained the same as a normal dental practice bar the service of the vehicles and equipment touch ups. However, a mobile clinic is not limited to only one specific clinic type. For example, the latest Samsung mobile clinics include an ear clinic, a dental clinic, eye clinic and a blood test unit on one truck. These clinics offer a one stop healthcare solution for rural patients. Presently all nine provinces of South Africa have mobile clinics of varying types operating in them, either in a private or corporate and/or government capacity. Advertising by the government or companies and word of mouth are used to spread the news around rural areas that a mobile clinic will be coming. The various professionals who staff the clinics are provided for by the company or entity who runs them, however, private individuals have bought mobile clinics and run them successfully on their own in the rural areas on a cash basis. It is possible for one mobile dental clinic to see up to 60 patients per day. Mobile clinics as mentioned early are not limited to just the roads but have also been built into trains. Istrodent has designed and constructed dental clinics on train carriages for the Phelophepa (Phelophepa means ‘good, clean health’ in Sotho and Venda) Trains which criss-cross South Africa’s railways providing healthcare for rural residents. The Phelophepa trains are a fully functioning mobile hospital. There are currently two trains; the 1st train was built in the early 1990s and the 2nd one was built in 2011/2012. The trains are fully functional and complete hospitals with different clinics in each carriage with a total of 18 carriages. The trains even have on board sleeping quarters for the 40 plus professionals manning their stations and a kitchen to provide them with meals. The Phelophepa Train is a joint initiative between Transnet and the Government and also provides rural residents with educational programs and awareness campaigns. It is estimated that the trains see an average of 45 000 patients a year. To date Istrodent has produced over 160 The Samsung Solar Powered Mobile Health Center ready for patients. The Aquafresh and Tswane Health Services Mobile Dental Clinics. 3D Diagram of a Mobile Dental Truck. mobile clinics that have not only served companies such as Colgate, Samsung and Aquafresh but also the South African Government and the South African National Defence Force. Various African countries such as Botswana, Zimbabwe, Ghana and also the United Nations have been supplied with mobile clinics. It is difficult to set a firm price on a mobile clinic due to numerous factors such as the make of the vehicle and what exactly is required in them but a starting figure would not be less than R600 000-00 or US$60 000-00 (based on an exchange rate of R10/$1). Istrodent is constantly developing new ideas and implementing those ideas into their new clinics not only to remain a leader in the industry but also to make the clinics easier to operate and in the long run to produce self-sustaining green units. In the South African and African context, the use of mobile clinics has and still is providing millions of people with essential healthcare they normally would not be able to access. With infrastructure issues, limited funding and remoteness of patients, the mobile clinic is a truly successful piece of equipment and a unique idea to combating the lack of health provision in poor and underdeveloped regions. Inside the Samsung Health Center Dental Clinic. The Eye Clinic and Blood Test Room onboard the Samsung Health Center.