Worry mounts over local clinic’s service in the middle of Covid-19
MIDRAND – Resident expressed worry over the level of service they got at the Midrand West Clinic after visiting the facility for two days trying to get tested.
A local resident expressed concern about the number of Covid-19 tests available for the public at Midrand West Clinic after attempting to get tested.
Ebonetha Ragovan told the Midrand Reporter that on 21 June, she and her husband went to the clinic in the afternoon hoping that they could get tested for Covid-19. However, according to the Ragovan, they were told the clinic only had 15 testing kits for the day.
Ragovan said they decided to go to the clinic the next morning at 7am hoping that the earlier they went, the quicker they would get help. “When we got there, we found a lot of people waiting in a queue already, since 6am in the morning. Now you must know, the reason we are there is because we have displayed symptoms of Covid-19 and of course we are not feeling well,” she said.
“I feel like they really do not care about us. Now we have to sit in the cold, other patients had no chairs and had to stand for those hours and wait for the officials to arrive,” she claimed.
Ragovan alleged that she and her husband waited two hours and 30 minutes before they were attended to. “A nurse came and started with the process at 9.30am. First they started to register our details and give us all a testing kit each, then you go back to your spot. Once that is done with everyone, they then start again with the person who was first in line and start doing the testing. We left the testing station at exactly 11.30am.”
The Midrand Reporter contacted the Region A Health Department for comment who referred the publication to the City of Johannesburg.
Nthatisi Modingoane, City of Johannesburg spokesperson, said because Johannesburg was the epicentre for coronavirus infections and many tests needed to be done, hospitals were prioritised to receive testing kits. “We are now screening more and at times we run out of supplies,” said Modingoane.
“Clinics operate from 7am to 4pm and clients are only supposed to be serviced from 7am. So queuing at the clinic from 6am will not assist clients in any way.
“It is worse now that it is winter. It is cold and clients are just exposing themselves to harsh weather conditions. Clinics always try to help clients as soon as they open.
“The Midrand West Clinic also renders extended clinic services from 7am and is also operational on Saturdays from 7am to 1pm.”
Modingoane added that the public could access services at Midrand West Clinic, Halfway House Clinic, Nizamiye Clinic and after hours they could obtain emergency services at Ebony Park Clinic and OR Tambo Clinic in Diepsloot.
“Other public health facilities that they can access include Edenvale Hospital and Tembisa Hospital as Region A does not have any public hospitals.”
Modingoane concluded, “We are in a pandemic and communities can also assist in stopping the spread of the virus by avoiding gatherings and adhering to non-pharmaceutical practices that include washing of hands and sanitising regularly, wearing a mask and observing social distancing.”
Details: Region A Health Department 011 237 8000.
