September 2023.
A local black-owned medical services company has received development funding to assist in the acquisition of mobile facilities and equipment to facilitate services in rural communities, in the Northern Cape, with the company itself co-funding the procurement of the specialised equipment.
The funding from Droogfontein Solar Power, has helped SN X-Ray, owned by Mr. Shawn Nzuza, a qualified Health Diagnostic Radiographer practitioner, to launch a mobile x-ray service for private and public patients in Kimberley and outlying areas, including farming and mining areas.
“It was a childhood dream of mine to be able to provide local healthcare services, which came about due to the the fact that my grandmother would have to travel very far, about 80 km, to access healthcare facilities. I wanted to bring radiology services to people to avoid them having to travel,” said Mr. Nzuza.
The company, that has been in operation since 2015, employs five people and already services approximately 180 patients each month. With this co-funding from Droogfontein Solar Power, it is expected that the mobile x-ray unit will increase the business turnover by increasing access to new areas, as well as stimulating local job creation.
“This is an essential medical service and we are particularly supportive of the mobile services as they will be able to service widespread communities in this province, thereby cutting down patients’ costs and time spent away from home and work,” said Zuki Ndlela, Economic Development Specialist for Droogfontein Solar Power.
In partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation, Small Enterprise Finance Agency, Small Enterprise Development Agency, and National Youth Development Agency, Droogfontein Solar Power’s Enterprise Development Programme aims to assist and accelerate the sustainability of local enterprises by ploughing financial resources into the areas of Kimberley, Riverton, Ritchie and Barkly West. The solar plant believes that their development programmes can help to steer local economies towards a more stable environment, nurture growth and create more jobs within these communities.
