JERUSALEM – Earlier this year Mpumalanga News reported on the shocking state of the local clinic. The entire structure was in poor shape and the roof was falling apart. During a revisit on Tuesday this publication found that the situation had deteriorated even further.
Our team found, once again, boxes containing patients’ files lying around, as there were no proper shelves to store them in the small administration office. One can’t help wondering how such a small amenity was supposed to serve such a big community. Among other things, patients raised concerns about lack of medication at times.
After visiting the clinic, we approached the Department of Health and asked if there was a plan to improve the condition of the clinic.
The spokesperson, Mr Ronnie Masilela said, “We are not aware of shortages of medication at our facilities and this allegation warrants immediate investigation. We will respond shortly.”
A week after the story was published, the then MEC for health, Ms Candith Mashego-Dlamini together with officials from the department visited the clinic. According to the health workers, she promised them that their issues would be addressed within three months.
After reading the story, this is what some readers had to say:
“I visited this clinic several times during my work as a medical journalist prior to1992 and it was in an immaculate and clean condition. The nurses were hands-on, kind and very well trained in diagnosing diseases which most doctors would have missed! The furniture was functional and strong and there were filing cabinets.
What happened to all those assets? Were they stolen? I cannot get over this – I’m totally shocked! Back then there were not as many patients because HIV/Aids wasn’t a problem yet, but the nurses could detect TB speedily. It was amazing and impressive,” said Ms Adriana Stuijt.
“The state of health facilities in our country is shocking, despite the huge budget allocation to the health department. Reading such stories are very sad for non-governmental welfare organisations.
We are expected to provide quality services to our beneficiaries and keep our infrastructure in place with probably very little of their budget reaching us,” said Mr Johan Bosch of Child Welfare SA White River, Sabie and Graskop.
“Thank you for the story. I hope that your visit to our clinic will bring about awareness and change the situation in our area which is unacceptable,” said Ms Carol Nyalungu.
Five months after the MEC’s promises, only a telephone line had been installed at the facility and the staff said they were ordered to remove the boxes of files from the small administration office where they were visible and store them in one of the consulting rooms.
They added they were concerned about their safety and that of the patients as the dilapidated state of the roof posed a danger.
“The telephone and new place for the boxes have been the only changes and now it’s difficult to assess patients since the boxes restrict our movements,” said one of the health workers.
Again Mpumalanga News approached the department to check their progress on addressing problems at the facility and this is what the spokesperson had to say through a statement sent by his office:
“With only three working days in office, the new MEC for Health Mr Gillion P Mashego has already visited Themba and Rob Ferreira hospitals on Monday and Tuesday respectively.
The aim of these visits was to get first-hand information from patients on conditions which have led to some people complaining about lack of commitment and slow service.
“The visits are in line with the last visits to hospitals by the premier which resulted in a Hospital Improvement Plan which is being implemented by the Department of Health.
Upon arrival at these two of the big five hospitals in Mpumalanga, MEC Mashego listened to staff at all levels and also to patients. “Some of the areas of discomfort experienced by the MEC are complaints about waiting times and delays in fixing minor facility related issues such as replacing globes. In a meeting with hospital management, the MEC called for unity and mutual respect in facilities to be able to deliver quality health-care services to the people of the province without delay or compromise.
