THE IFP has challenged the KZN MEC for Health, Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu, to be transparent about the status quo of the health system in the province, which is reportedly under serious strain.

IFP spokesperson for Community Safety and Liaison in the KZN Legislature, Blessed Gwala, has called for urgent oversight visits by the health portfolio committee, together with MEC Simelane-Zulu, to all the main hospitals in KZN districts to inspect the state of the facilities in the province.

ALSO READ: Leaders pay homage to education champion

‘The healthcare system in this province has never been in such a dire situation since the dawn of democracy,’ Gwala said.

He was reacting to a video clip filmed at Wentworth Hospital in Durban.

‘The video showing patients lying helplessly on the floor, while some are waiting in the background and pleading for help, went viral on social media.

‘It paints a horrifying, bleak picture of a crumbling health system. Simelane-Zulu is in denial about the challenges faced by her department.

‘We are not convinced that there are enough beds to cater for Covid-19 patients as the MEC has been claiming. The video showed patients sleeping on the floor while others are sitting in chairs, which totally contradicts the MEC’s chorus,’ Gwala said.

He said Simelane-Zulu, after visiting the King Cetshwayo district and eShowe, was quoted as saying people should not panic as hospitals are sufficiently equipped and with enough beds to cater for Covid-19 patients.

‘That was a blatant lie. The late Inkosi Mbusowabathethwa Mthethwa was ferried by an ambulance from Empangeni to Ekhombe Hospital for admission owing to beds being unavailable in local hospitals. He died on his way to this hospital, having to travel more than 150km on a bumpy gravel road.

‘We are disappointed and embarrassed by the MEC’s distortion of facts. We are in support of her efforts in dealing with the pandemic and no one blames the Department of Health for the ongoing crisis.

‘But we want to warn the MEC not to be misled. The denial of the severity of the situation in our hospitals is sheer carelessness, misleading, dangerous and a recipe for disaster,’ Gwala said.

Simelane-Zulu said her department was aware of the video clip circulating on social media.

‘We strongly condemn the filming and distribution of video footage of patients in the care of the department without official authorisation and the patients’ express permission. This is tantamount to the violation of patients’ right to privacy and dignity. We are nevertheless concerned by circumstances that led to this situation and are investigating this matter,’ she said.

She added that her department has already dispatched a high-level delegation of managers from head office to establish the facts and come up with solutions.

‘We have since established that patients who were filmed were awaiting their Covid-19 results.

‘On the day in question, the hospital had received a particularly high number of patients and 11 doctors were away in isolation after testing positive. A further 17 nursing staff were also absent because of Covid-19 infection.’

HAVE YOUR SAY

Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.

For news straight to your phone invite us:

WhatsApp – 060 784 2695

Instagram – zululand_observer