Eswatini Railways (ESR) Clinic at Mpaka Station Plays a Critical Role in Employee Health and Community Wellbeing
The ESR Clinic at the Mpaka Railways Station continues to serve as a vital pillar in safeguarding employee health, workplace safety, and local community wellbeing through comprehensive medical services, preventive programmes, and regional health collaborations. Established many years ago with the objective to provide clinical healthcare to employees, it has grown to become an important health component even to the local community.
At the core of the clinic’s mandate is the provision of employees 24-hour standby medical assistance for injuries sustained on duty. As the first line of response to workplace accidents, the clinic ensures immediate medical attention, stabilization, and referral of injured employees to appropriate health facilities. Working closely with the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) function, the clinic manages Injury on Duty (IOD) documentation, facilitates hospital transfers and follow-up care, reports cases to the Ministry of Labour and Insurance, and oversees medical cost payments and insurance reimbursements.
Beyond emergency response, the clinic operates within a primary healthcare framework, focusing on disease prevention, early detection, and management of common illnesses. Preventive health education remains a cornerstone of its work, alongside the treatment of minor infections and routine medical conditions.
The clinic offers a wide range of services to employees and their siblings, while also extending care to members of the surrounding community. These services include curative care, child growth monitoring and immunisation, family planning services, antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV-positive individuals, antenatal and postnatal care, as well as counselling services.
In support of employee wellbeing, the clinic runs targeted prevention programmes, notably the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Programme, which raises awareness, conducts screenings, and supports the management of conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. This is complemented by a regular Health Bulletin that shares health information through posters and online platforms. The clinic also works closely with the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), providing medical support during company social events and offering counselling services when required.
A key safety-related function of the clinic is its leadership of the Medical Surveillance Programme, which focuses on safety-critical employees such as drivers, heavy machinery operators, and staff working at heights. In collaboration with the company doctor, the clinic ensures employees are medically fit for duty through a structured, year-long assessment process involving multiple departments.
Regionally, the clinic plays an active role in public health initiatives within the Lubombo region. It is a member of the Regional Public Health Emergency Management Committee,
Photo: Mpaka Clinic undertaking a free Community Health Outreach Programme
contributing to the identification of health risks and coordinated response planning during disease outbreaks. The clinic also supports the Community Mentor Mothers Programme,
where attached officers follow up and mentor HIV-positive pregnant women, supporting the national goal of achieving an HIV/AIDS-free generation.
The clinic further contributes to health system strengthening by serving as a practical training site for nursing students from the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) and Good Shepherd College of Nursing. Through hands-on mentorship, clinic staff help develop the next generation of healthcare professionals.
In addition, the clinic collaborates with external partners and participates in community health campaigns, both within and beyond the company’s operational areas. Partnerships such as those with Luke Commission Hospital enable the provision of free medical services to employees and surrounding communities.
Through its integrated approach to healthcare, safety, prevention, and community engagement, the Company Clinic remains a strategic asset, supporting not only the wellbeing of employees but also the broader public health agenda.
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