Dept of Health calls for an end to crimes targeted at public health facilities
24 cases of crimes have been recorded in Limpopo public health care facilities as of April 2017, to date.
LIMPOPO – The department is calling on communities to work together with security committees to end cases of crimes targeting public health facilities.
According to the Department of Health’s spokesperson, Neil Shikwambana, criminals are targeting security personnel and the nursing staff, and robbing them of their personal belongings such as cars, money, cellphones and service pistols (security personnel).
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“While criminals usually jump or cut the fence open in order to gain access to facilities, some pretend to be sick or bringing a sick person, before pouncing on unsuspecting security personnel and nurses. There also have been a number of robberies and break in’s into the nurses and doctor’s residences within facilities,” he said.
Shikwambana goes on to say that these activities undermine the department’s commitment to maximise health care access by increasing the number of clinics functioning for 24 hours.
“More and more health professionals are withdrawing from performing night duties because they fear for their safety. The department believes that an attack on health professionals and health facilities is an attack on communities and we are therefore calling on communities to rise in defense of health facilities and personnel.”
In November 2017, MEC for Health, Dr Phophi Ramathuba launched Security Committees and outlined the composition and their role in communities
Ramathuba says the community should unite to end these crimes in our facilities because it poses a serious threat for provision of service delivery.
“Our nurses working night shifts are not safe and as a result, most of the clinics which were previously operating for 24 hours, are badly affected. Since security and safety in all our facilities is a societal issue, it equally requires all stakeholders such as civic organisations, Community Policing Forums (CPF), traditional leaders and other key role players to take part in ensuring that our facilities are safe and free of crimes,” Ramathuba concluded.
