SEBOKENG – Scores of residents gathered outside the Zone 17 clinic to support Lerato Tumahole, a victim of an ‘unsafe contraceptive’, in staging a picket against the clinic’s contraceptive practices recently, February 29.
Dressed in black T-shirts and chanting slogans, protestors aimed to deliver a memorandum to senior officials of the Department of Health in Sedibeng, stressing grievances regarding the contraceptive methods administered at the clinic.
They [picketers] voiced concerns over numerous cases of patients experiencing adverse effects due to what they termed as “botched methods.”
Community leader, Minkie Mofokeng addressed the crowd, emphasizing the urgency for the Department of Health to address the issue.
“We marching because of the overwhelming numbers of complaints on the contraceptive issued by the clinic. We need answers so we could understand what may be the problem: whether it’s the products or the method they using,” she said.
One new patient shared her ordeal with Sedibeng Ster, recounting her experience of receiving a botched injection.
The incident has sparked further outrage among the community members, who demand immediate action and accountability from healthcare authorities.
Josephine Madibu (34) said the botched injection processes are instilling fear in the community.
“I underwent the same ‘botched’ process and this has now left me scared. I also had a bump, although I am on treatment with the facility. When I reported my issue, the reception of my problem proved that they are aware of such cases,” she said.
Speaking to Ster on the sidelines of the march, managers acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating that the issue extends beyond Zone 17 and is a region-wide concern.
Assistant Director Primary Health Care, Papa Komane said “We received the community’s grievances and we will respond to them before their stipulated time. We knew of one issue of “Lerato” wo presented her issue. We are on the processes of investigating her matter as soon as we done with the investigation we will respond accordingly.”
“We need to do a thorough investigation whether this crisis is caused by the method we using or product itself. Our health system is risky, when you come here, you bound to face after effect and we urge those who have issues to come forward to assist with our investigation,” he said.
