Manguzi Hospital serves a scattered rural population of approximately 110 000 in an area approximately 60km x 80km. The northern boundary is the Mozambican/South African border, the eastern boundary is the Indian Ocean, the western boundary the Pongola River and the southern boundary less well marked. The area is divided into 48 ‘isigodi’ or tribal areas, each area being supervised by an ‘Induna’ (or chief). All 48 isigodi and their Indunas are ruled by one king, King Israel Tembe. The area operates under a joint Tribal/ Roman law.
Each ‘isigodi’ has an Induna (chief), a school (usually primary level- there are few high schools), a mobile clinic (serviced once a month by primary health care nurses), community health worker(s) and a municipal ‘counsellor’.
Most people live in reed huts scattered across the area, surviving off welfare grants and subsistence farming.
Unemployment is estimated at approximately 80%. 50% of the population is under 18 years old, and 25% is over 60 years old. HIV prevalence is estimated at 23-26%. Literacy levels are low, particularly in the over 40 year old population. Transport is limited to a few ‘skorro-skorros’ or bush taxis, and mobile phone reception is patchy. Violent crime is very low, and the bush is generally very safe to walk, hike, paddle, bike and camp in- there are no fences.
Vodacom- reception still awaited in many areas
ACCOMODATION:
If you are permanent staff, you will be accommodated on the hospital grounds (which is fenced and manned by a security company). Accommodation is usually shared, and can vary from a parkhome (prefabricated accommodation with airconditioning) to a house (usually in various states of disrepair). Accommodation is cheap, very social and comes with basic furnishings (ie: stove, fridge, bed, cupboards, very basic kitchen equipment). The hospital has got a small swimming pool and a tennis court available for staff use.
INTERNET:
Vodacom 3G is now available most days- although the dreaded text 'No Service' does occasionally rear its ugly head. ADSL has not yet arrived to hospital residents, and most residents run their internet through a modem plugin or via their cellphones. ORGANIZE THIS BEFORE YOU ARRIVE PLEASE.
TERRAIN AND VEHICLES:
The area is predominantly sandy and we have only one tar road(you will get to the town just fine in a normal car), and some kilometres of gravel. A 4x4 or a 2x4 with clearance are ideal and will get you anywhere. However, a Citi Golf will get you to a lot of places- clearance is the most important component. If you are fit, with a sense of humour, you can (with a bit of guidance) get everywhere through short cuts on foot/by bicycle (the area is really safe). It will take approximately double the time that it would take in a 4x4. There are no car hire facilities anywhere near this area.
FACILLITIES:
There are three Banks (First National Bank, Capitec and ABSA) with associated ATMs. We have two grocery stores- Spar and Boxer. They sell the basic necessities, and only lack luxuries such as pesto, humus, croissants and rocket. Fortunately we are all good cooks and there is usually someone going to Durban on a weekend that can pick up a shopping list. We have some basic car mechanics in town, a post office, police station, magistrate, home affairs, welfare, liquor store and basic hardware store. We also have a PEP and a JET, as well as other smaller assorted clothing stores. There is a Total (plus Steers), a KFC and an Engen fuel station.
RELIGION:
The area is predominantly Christian (the hospital was started as a missionary hospital and still retains some of this ethos), although we have a large Shembe population and a growing Islamic population. Bible study happens once a week on the hospital grounds, and there are a variety of churches in the area.
