The rural community of Malukazi will soon enjoy access to a brand new clinic thanks to the efforts of two Muslim organizations.
The Islamic Medical Association (IMA)/South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT) Malukazi Clinic will officially open its doors on Sunday the 16th of March 2014.
The 560m2 clinic will offer a range of services including primary healthcare, the training of caregivers interested in home-based care, HIV testing and counseling, as well as access to a dermatologist and an optometrist.
The new double story structure replaces an old clinic which the IMA was also responsible for running, said Solly Suleman, chairman of the organization’s clinics committee.
“The Malukazi clinic’s journey began in 1978 when members of the Muslim Youth Movement’s Isipingo branch wanted to provide free water to the people living in this informal settlement,” he recalled. “The Kader family donated a piece of land on which the MYM erected clinic. Initially, Muslim doctors from the area provided free health services on Sundays. In 1980 the clinic was handed over to the IMA Clinics Committee, and today it’s run by professional nurses on a full time basis.”
Suleman said that the IMA was a faith-based organization in that it implemented its projects according to Islamic principles. “The Quran instructs us time and time again to serve humanity particularly the less privileged,” he explained. “Access to effective healthcare is an unfulfilled need for many in our midst hence our erection of this clinic to alleviate this problem somewhat.”
He also expressed gratitude to the SAMCT which contributed 2.2 of the 3.8 million rand required to rebuild the clinic.
Commenting on the SAMCT’s involvement in the clinic project, Mr Shabir Chohan, in his capacity as trustee of the SAMCT, said: “The SAMCT exists to improve the health and overall development of people, irrespective of race or religion and is active in four primary sectors, inclusive of education, health, social development and poverty alleviation.”
“Whilst we generally identify and execute such programs independently, we are not averse, in certain cases, to partnering with reputable organizations with sound track‐ records to ensure that funds reach the most deserving of recipients. The clinic project was an exceptionally good fit with our organisation’s commitment to health issues and we are very pleased at having the opportunity to partner with the IMA to deliver a brand new clinic operation for the benefit of a disadvantaged community,” he added.
Mr Chohan said the SAMCT was ‘extremely pleased’ to have been in the position to contribute R2,2 million towards the project, so meeting its community upliftment ideal. Established in 2008, the SAMCT acts as a conduit for the provision of funding, services and\ other resources to improving the lives of the deprived, poverty‐ stricken and historically disadvantaged communities of South Africa. Since inception, the organization has made significant donations throughout South Africa, addressing a wide range of poverty alleviation, empowerment, community upliftment and sustainability programs. “Our trustees are very excited about the Malukazi Clinic project and regard it as the ideal model for the establishment of similar clinics in other impoverished parts of South Africa,” Mr Chohan concluded.
Members of the media are invited to attend the opening of the clinic on Sunday the 16th of March 2014, from 11am to 1pm at 141 Postum Road, Malukazi, KwaMakhutha.