Trucks are mainly viewed by the public as being large rigs hauling goods on major highways – or, on the smaller side, delivering bread and other such consumer essentials to stores and cafes around the country. However, not often recognised are the multiple roles trucks play in enabling essential medical services to be rendered to communities far from the public eye.
One such example came to our attention via LTE Medical & Supplies being contracted by The Global Fund to supply the Mozambican Ministry of Health with a turnkey solution for mobile TB screening clinics. LTE Medical & Supplies (Pty) Ltd is a company that supplies, designs and maintains various types of healthcare solutions and products within the African market with a focus on mobile solutions, radiology solutions and various other medical equipment.
Knowing TFM’s years of knowledge and experience in offering mobile healthcare solutions, LTE Medical & Supplies immediately contacted TFM to build the screening clinics – ones that would be suitable to handle the rugged Mozambican roads and environment. TFM stepped up to the challenge and exceeded all the client’s expectations. In just eight weeks, TFM successfully delivered the world-class conversion of the mobile clinics.
The units comprise of a special body with X-ray, operator and laboratory rooms built onto a 6×4 UD Quan CW 26 370 supplied by UD Trucks Southern Africa. Solar and generator power are incorporated to enable the units to operate off the grid. In essence, each one is fully self-sustainable including electrical, plumbing and ventilation systems.
Looking at the mobile clinic application from a wider view, mobile clinics and healthcare vehicles can take on various forms from small panel vans, light duty trucks, heavy duty trucks – with 4×4 and 6×4 capability – right up to buses, as well as container based and pre-fabricated facilities.
TFM manufactures these mobile clinics and healthcare vehicles using an aluminium Panel-Loc structure (an extruded aluminium interlocking panel design), which is not only aesthetically pleasing, robust and corrosion resistant but is also designed specifically for harsh African road conditions. Its modular structure provides for ease of repair and the double wall structure gives natural insulation and can be additionally lead-lined for X-ray room requirements.
Just as varied are the disciplines and services offered in these units ranging from primary healthcare services, mother and child services, laboratory and pathology services, dental and eye services, occupational health screening, radiology and imaging services to more specialised surgical intervention and medical emergency services.
TFM – with LTE Medical & Supplies – strive to provide a full turnkey solution and services include: Design, layout and project management; vehicles and logistical support; building and conversion; clinical software and facility management systems; medical and health technology equipment; installation, training, warranty and support
The idea is to provide various options (modular) for different services to be configured based on the needs from the end user and the demographics. The units are pre-configured to offer multiple disciplines and can be customised to meet deployment area’s burden of disease and end customer requirements.
FleetWatch loves coming across such applications for it adds muscle to our belief that the truck – although not widely recognised as such – touches the lives of all in so many positive ways.
And it’s a big congrats to TFM and LTE Medical & Supplies for the stunning work they are doing in keeping the people of southern Africa healthy. And, of course to The Global Fund, a partnership organization designed to accelerate the end of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics. Founded in 2002, the Global Fund is a partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and people affected by the diseases. The Global Fund raises and invests nearly US$4 billion a year to support programs run by local experts in countries and communities most in need.
