The hospital at the epicentre of the initiate casualty crisis has run out of beds.
Authorities are now scrambling to erect makeshift wards near St Barnabas Hospital in Libode to accommodate the overflow, and transfer initiates to hospitals with more capacity.
This comes as the initiate death toll in the province increased to nine.
Most have died in the OR Tambo region, four of those in the Nyandeni local municipality.
Yesterday, authorities – including cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa – were hunting for a solution after St Barnabas Hospital told health MEC Phumza Dyantyi that the facility was “facing a crisis due to an influx of initiates”.
Provincial health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said 36 had been admitted. “The hospital has run out of beds. Six ordinary medical cases cannot find beds.”
The Community Development Foundation of South Africa (Codefsa) NGO is to erect a boma behind the hospital and land has been allocated by Chief Jongusapho Bokleni, the traditional leader of the area. Kupelo said all costs would be borne by Codefsa.
“The health department will need to give support with medical kits and monitoring personnel. The chief will assign reputable traditional nurses for the duration of the stay, where our doctors and nurses will monitor.
“The NGO will recruit two individuals for security and they will be paid stipends,” said Kupelo.
Yesterday, Dyantyi dispatched high-ranking officials from Bhisho to the hospital to assist while Xasa personally visited the area.
After interacting with Nyandeni and OR Tambo municipality bosses and traditional leaders, a community hall and local ward councillor offices at Maxhosa village – a stone’s throw from the hospital – were identified to serve as an overflow and rescue centre.
Some initiates were transferred to hospitals with the capacity to treat them. In some cases the initiates admitted were just 13 years old. Some had assault wounds including swollen legs and hands from being beaten with sticks. Others were admitted for dehydration, pneumonia and septicaemia.
“This is a great concern – that hospitals are overflowing with initiates who are supposed to be in initiation schools,” said Xasa.
“We hope that the centres are operating by tomorrow (today).
“We must ensure that these initiates are kept warm and we must therefore have heaters, mattresses and food.
“We must also look on how we can collaborate between the two centres.”
He declared the two centres ready yesterday, saying the one at Ntlanza in Mxhosa village will ease the pressure of overcrowding at the hospital.
The centre is an initiative of Cogta, health, social development, traditional leaders and Nyandeni municipality.
“This is integrated government relations in action to ensure the safe passage of boys to manhood,” said Xasa, who encouraged police visibility to deal with the lawlessness of some villagers.
“The rule of law must be applied. We cannot be seen as a province where lawlessness thrives unabated.”
OR Tambo municipal council has made an amount of R300000 available to assist with the programme.
Deputy mayor Thandeki Sabisa said the funds were to assist the district with the monitoring initiates.
“We urge parents to report illegal schools to traditional leaders so as to avoid fatalities, amputations and other health hazards that face this sacred ritual,” said Sabisa.
Codefsa director Nkululeko Nxesi said they were working hard to establish another rescue centre in Lusikisiki. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Scramble to stave off initiate hospital crisis
Authorities are now scrambling to erect makeshift wards near St Barnabas Hospital in Libode to accommodate the overflow, and transfer initiates to hospitals with more capacity.
This comes as the initiate death toll in the province increased to nine.
Most have died in the OR Tambo region, four of those in the Nyandeni local municipality.
Yesterday, authorities – including cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa – were hunting for a solution after St Barnabas Hospital told health MEC Phumza Dyantyi that the facility was “facing a crisis due to an influx of initiates”.
Provincial health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said 36 had been admitted. “The hospital has run out of beds. Six ordinary medical cases cannot find beds.”
The Community Development Foundation of South Africa (Codefsa) NGO is to erect a boma behind the hospital and land has been allocated by Chief Jongusapho Bokleni, the traditional leader of the area. Kupelo said all costs would be borne by Codefsa.
“The health department will need to give support with medical kits and monitoring personnel. The chief will assign reputable traditional nurses for the duration of the stay, where our doctors and nurses will monitor.
“The NGO will recruit two individuals for security and they will be paid stipends,” said Kupelo.
Yesterday, Dyantyi dispatched high-ranking officials from Bhisho to the hospital to assist while Xasa personally visited the area.
After interacting with Nyandeni and OR Tambo municipality bosses and traditional leaders, a community hall and local ward councillor offices at Maxhosa village – a stone’s throw from the hospital – were identified to serve as an overflow and rescue centre.
Some initiates were transferred to hospitals with the capacity to treat them. In some cases the initiates admitted were just 13 years old. Some had assault wounds including swollen legs and hands from being beaten with sticks. Others were admitted for dehydration, pneumonia and septicaemia.
“This is a great concern – that hospitals are overflowing with initiates who are supposed to be in initiation schools,” said Xasa.
“We hope that the centres are operating by tomorrow (today).
“We must ensure that these initiates are kept warm and we must therefore have heaters, mattresses and food.
“We must also look on how we can collaborate between the two centres.”
He declared the two centres ready yesterday, saying the one at Ntlanza in Mxhosa village will ease the pressure of overcrowding at the hospital.
The centre is an initiative of Cogta, health, social development, traditional leaders and Nyandeni municipality.
“This is integrated government relations in action to ensure the safe passage of boys to manhood,” said Xasa, who encouraged police visibility to deal with the lawlessness of some villagers.
“The rule of law must be applied. We cannot be seen as a province where lawlessness thrives unabated.”
OR Tambo municipal council has made an amount of R300000 available to assist with the programme.
Deputy mayor Thandeki Sabisa said the funds were to assist the district with the monitoring initiates.
“We urge parents to report illegal schools to traditional leaders so as to avoid fatalities, amputations and other health hazards that face this sacred ritual,” said Sabisa.
Codefsa director Nkululeko Nxesi said they were working hard to establish another rescue centre in Lusikisiki. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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