On her daily rounds, Marther Mathegu found one of her patients, Mr Tshililo Tshifhumulo, extremely ill and unresponsive and decided to call an ambulance. This decisive action saved Tshifhumulo’€™s life nurses at the local clinic later confirmed.  

“I was visiting him as usual at his house and but that morning I found helpless on his bed. When I tried to talk to him, he didn’€™t answer so I immediately called an ambulance. I was very shocked to find him lying like that, it was scary,” said Mathegu.

According to Tshifhumulo neighbour, Ntsieni Mbedzi, home-based carers are very helpful in this Limpopo community. “I was surprised when I didn’€™t see Mr Tshifhumulo early morning because he always comes to the fence to greet me. Not seeing or hearing from him made me decide to call him, but then I saw Marther Mathegu going into his house. I was shocked when I saw the ambulance arrive,” said Mbedzi.

A villager from Mafukani, Khumbelo Mudau, said he was also stunned about the event. “I am very surprised to see an ambulance arriving. This shows some progress because before we used to wait for hours for an ambulance to arrive. But this time they came out immediately, I wish it could happen like this all the time,” said Mudau.

Caroline Xihundla, a sister at Matavhela Clinic expressed her appreciation to the home-based carer: “We are very grateful to have carers who are very dedicated. They are helping the community a lot. If it wasn’t for Marther Mathegu, Mr Tshifhumulo would not have made it, but she helped him by calling an ambulance and that is what we would like for all our people to do when some people needs their help,” said Xihundla.

Tshifhumulo told OurHealth: “I am very happy and thankful. I wish there was more I could do to show how thankful I am to the home-based carers. I would like them to continue doing the good job they are doing for this community and once again I would like to thank Marther Mathegu for saving my life. Thank you so much,” said Tshifhumulo.

Suprise Nemalale is an OurHealth Citizen Journalist reporting from the Vhembe health district at Limpopo.