Patients marked Former President Nelson Mandela’s birthday by helping at the clinic in Limpopo’s Vhembe District.

“It was a very good experience for me to have done something for my clinic,” said Matavhela Clinic patient Thivhulawi Mbedzi from Mufulwi village. “Even though there was not much to be done, I had to wash the walls and the windows of the buildings around the clinic.”

“We enjoyed so much helping at the clinic,” she added.

With a gang of patients ready to give back for the annual holiday dedicated to public service, patients did not stop there and headed to the homes of elderly community members.

“Because there was little to do at the clinic and we were so many, we decided to divide into groups so that the other group could go around the nearer villages and spend their 67 minutes with old aged people who needed care from home,” said Thinavhuyo Nembidze.

Volunteers also delivered medication to homes of the elderly.

[quote float=”left”]”I never thought strangers would come into my home and help me for the whole day”

“On this day, there were some patients who were supposed to receive their medications so we delivered their medications to their homes,” said Mashudu Nekhavhambe, who added that some volunteers helped get older patients to the clinic for check ups.

Muhanelwa Ndou is 75 years old and lives with her 14-year-old grad daughter in Mafukani village. Ndou said she was touched by the visit.

“Being old and poor, I never thought strangers would come into my home and help me for the whole day,” Ndou told OurHealth. “This Mandela Day has made me to see that people really do care for each other.”

“My home was blessed with three women who took a very good care for me,” she added. “They made sure that I took my bath, took my pills and ate a proper meal.”

“I am very thankful to all the people who made my day,” Ndou said.

This is the second consecutive Mandela Day during which Matavhela Clinic patients have donated their time to the clinic.

Ndivhuwo Nenweli said the day was an opportunity to meet new people in the community.

“I got a chance to meet the Kwinda family from Gundani who are depending on a one child’s grant,” Nenweli said. “It felt so good to have gone to the family and presented them with some food and clothes.”

Clinic staff member Mashudu Nekhavhambe thanked the volunteers for their work.

“We are very grateful to all those who took their personal time to come and help here at the clinic,” Nekhavhambe said. “The walls and windows are spotless because of them.”

“We thank all of them and wish that they (continue) to go out and help their fellow community members who are in need (and) that in, that way, everyone will live in peace.”