Medical excellence in a challenging region

Dr Christina de Villiers and Nokonwaba Yekani Mati

In 2013, Dr Christina de Villiers lost her parents in a violent farm attack on their family farm in Barkley East. This made her and her husband, Johan Olivier, reconsider their decision to continue their medical careers in Barkley East’s community and return to the platteland.

However, with an outpouring of community support for the two doctors, the couple decided to stay put. Working closely with Nokonwaba Yekani Mati, superintendent of the Cloete-Joubert Provincial Hospital, a public hospital in Barkly East, Eastern Cape, Christina, along with a team of medical doctors and administrators, has helped the hospital become arguably one of the best country hospitals in the province.

The hospital lies close to a ski resort in one of South Africa's most beautiful regions. It serves Barkley East, Rhodes, Rossouw, Part of Sterkspruit (Polmietfontein, Upperzelle and Phelandaba) and parts of Lesotho. Located close to tourist destinations that are popular among outdoor enthusiasts, the hospital regularly treats trauma and car accidents due to the area’s treacherous mountain passes and remote location. Additionally, it falls within a large drainage area and experiences snowfall during winter, further contributing to potential medical emergencies.

Time is critical when dealing with trauma and emergencies, but Barkley East lies 3-4 hours away from the nearest state hospital and 5-6 hours from the closest private hospital. Christina explains, "We felt a deep responsibility to serve our community and create a haven for everyone. During my family's crisis, the kindness and empathy of a local doctor, Dr Mbulelo Mashale, shone through as he treated my brother, Dawie. His compassion, with tears in his eyes, moved me."

The hospital staff strives to cultivate that same caring culture for everyone, from local villagers to visiting tourists, cyclists and ski resort patrons. "Teamwork is at the heart of everything we do," adds Nokonwaba Yekani Mati, superintendent of Cloete-Joubert Provincial Hospital. "Our diverse staff brings a wealth of skills and perspectives. We believe in the power of positive thinking and resourcefulness."

South African public health institutions often face resource constraints, and the Cloete-Joubert Hospital is no exception. "We make the most of what we have; the worst becomes the best during the trying times.

“During the Covid-19 crisis, when personal protective gear ran out, the personnel used bin liners as protective gear.