Many hands ensure Inanda has ‘new’ clinic

THE KwaZulu-Natal International Business Association (Kiba) recently handed over a renovated building to serve as a clinic to residents in Inanda.

Omie Singh, the chairperson of KIBA, said Victor Mhlongo, a resident of Intanda in Inanda, told him about the dilapidated building and asked for help.

“We often do work in the area, assisting the community as best as we can. When Victor explained the situation, I put out the plea for help within our Kiba membership and a group of businessmen, who wish to remain anonymous, took it upon themselves to assist with funding the project,” said Singh.

According to Mhlongo, the building began to break down when the asbestos roof started to fall apart.

“The building was used for years as a clinic. Nurses from the Department of Health used to come here at least once a week, park their van and see to the medical needs of the people. But when the asbestos roof began breaking down, it became unsafe to use the place.

“The nurses moved to a nearby school and attended to people there. But the number of pupils at the school has grown and the principal needs the classrooms that were used for the clinic back.

“We are grateful to Mr Singh and his Kiba team. Now our people can continue to get medical care near their homes. They don’t have to walk to the other clinic or not get medicine because they can’t get to that clinic,” said Mhlongo.

According to Singh, the original centre was sponsored by one of the stalwart families in the community.

“The Ngcobo family donated the land and built the clinic. It was used on a regular basis to provide vital health care to the surrounding community. But over time it had degenerated and the roof deteriorated, making it unsuitable for use, especially for medical use.

"So as Kiba, we committed to initially replacing the roof. But as the momentum began, we found more members coming on board and sorting other

things out like the plumbing, connecting the electricity and painting the walls,” said Singh

The current owner of the land that the clinic is built on is a retired nurse, Joyce Ngcobo.

She saw the need for a clinic in the area and donated the land. Her grandfather had also donated land on which

two schools were built.

Haniff Salat, a businessman, who spearheaded the renovations of the clinic, said: “By renovating the clinic, Kiba has brought the community together again.

“It is the way the rainbow nation should work together, all for the benefit of the people.”