Letter: Appalling health care offered by Ballito clinic

Daniel Santhomay of Chaka’s Head writes:

More than a month ago, global media reported on a virus that infected citizens of Wuhan, a city in China. By the looks of it, this seemed like an ordinary virus making its debut in a country renowned for global medical inventions and innovations. Alas, this was the start of a global pandemic.

Here in KZN, some people are absolutely ignorant of the magnitude of this pandemic and the consequences of the infection rate.

We are in a national lockdown, but still people are seen doing what they normally do with scant regard for the law.

I visited the clinic in Ballito a few times to pick up family members.

Recent events have turned normal healthcare into a comedy of errors! Had a lockdown been implemented sooner, things would’ve been better.

Firstly, this clinic is not equipped to deal with this virus and then some.

Reports in local media have highlighted the appalling conditions that patients have to contend with, from inadequate seating, work apathy and rude nurses amongst a few.

Sure, the waiting area has been enclosed with aluminum windows to alleviate the scorching sun’s rays but on a safety level the design is flawed with no emergency fire escape exits.

Stack doors would’ve sufficed as fire escape doors, doubled up as ventilation on a hot day. Now the congestion will just speed up infections of airborne diseases due to inadequate ventilation in an already cramped space where you can literally hear your neighbour’s heartbeat.

Just last week patients were forced to wait their turn out in the rain due to social distancing measures. Some were not impressed and stormed off. Others had no choice but to wait in miserable conditions conducive to worsening matters drastically.

Authorities should’ve hired a frame marquee and chairs to accommodate more patients comfortably whilst adhering to new social distancing measures.

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