THE long queues that people often complain about when visiting Ngwelezane Hospital will remain unless the government considers the construction of a district hospital in uThungulu.
This was the opinion of the newly elected Provincial Chairperson of the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU), Siyanda Zungu.
The former NEHAWU Regional Secretary was speaking to the Zululand Observer shortly after his election during the 10th NEHAWU Provincial Congress held last week.
‘As the new leadership we will be pushing for government to build district hospitals throughout the province in an effort to reduce the workload of tertiary hospitals such as Ngwelezane.
He said the influx of patients to Ngwelezane Hospital on a daily basis should be directed to a district hospital, as Ngwelezane was designed to receive patients that are referred to by the district hospitals.
‘As long long as Ngwelezane still receives patients directly from hospitals such as Mosvold, Bethesda, Ubombo, Manguzi, Mseleni, Hlabisa, Itshelejuba, Ceza, Nkonjeni, Ekhombe, Nkandla and eShowe, the long queues will not go anywhere.
‘This is a big challenge facing us, coupled with the shortage of staff and inadequate medication.
‘We will also push for an end to outsourcing which takes up a lot of money which could be better utilised in employing more staff,’ said Zungu.
‘There are many issues that concern us regarding the state of our hospitals. Many of our hospitals lack equipment, funds and human resources.
‘What makes matters worse is the dysfunctional hospital boards that we have at the moment. They are not assisting the government in resolving these challenges.’
The other office bearers elected at the Provincial Congress were Nobukhosi Xulu (Deputy Chairperson), Phakama Ndunakazi (Secretary), Mduduzi Chiyi (Deputy Secretary), and Makhosazana Xaba (Treasurer).
