Closing the Distance in South Africa
Phelophepa Medical Train
Pro bono work took us to South Africa to design surgical train cars that provide care for rural communities. Dubbed the ‘Train of Hope’, the Phelophepa has helped over 14 million South Africans over the past 28 years.
LOCATION: Northern Cape, South Africa
CLIENT: Phelophepa Healthcare Train
OVERVIEW: Mobile Healthcare and Surgery Center
COMPLETION DATE: 2015
SERVICES: Architecture, Interior Design
Phelophepa is a combination of the Sotho and Tswana languages meaning “good, clean health.”
The Train of Hope works to bring health-equity as well as to deliver on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It’s equipped with modern, well maintained facilities, a fully stocked pharmacy with global health access, and of course, doctors and nurses.
Solving an existing problem with pre-existing infrastructure, Phelophepa train takes services to underserved communities in under-resourced areas of the country who may otherwise go without.
The focus of our car’s design is care and treatment for cataracts. What we know to be a condition for people in their 70s or 80s, in this community we were seeing 30 yrs old lining up for this sight improving activity. What can be done for the low cost of $8 a surgery was done at no cost to the community.
The Phelophepa Train’s social impact has reached millions of rural South Africans over 24 years as it continues to sustain and expand its reach. The vision is to establish primary health care centers to remain in villages and aid the residents after the trains depart. Currently, the train pulls up for two weeks and is not back for another year.
