The provincial health department has allegedly backed off its plans to remove a clinic manager in Nompumelelo after community pressure.Now the residents want the clinic improved.
Last week the Daily Dispatch reported on the community’s reaction to the ousting of manager Siyanda Botha by writing to the district health manager opposing the removal. Botha was meant to be replaced last Wednesday.
Yesterday, Mzwandile Jack, chairman of the community development forum said: “Siya is still here, but we health delegation to come and communicate with us.”
Jack said although the community was happy the manager had not been removed, there was no telling if it was permanent.
Ward councillor Makhaya Bopi said the community had indicated it would stand by Botha.
“We suspect it’s the letter that was written to the district by the community ,” he said.
Noluvuyo Nkoloza, chairwoman of the clinic committee said as delighted as they were to retain Botha’s services, urgent attention needed to be given to the facility which was built as a temporary structure in 1993.
The Dispatch visited the wooden structure which looked like it had recently been given a fresh coat of paint.
The community confirmed that Good Samaritans had painted it last year on Mandela Day.
Inside however was a different story.
The structure, which comprises three consultation rooms and a waiting room, is beginning to rot from damp.
The wooden wall in one of the toilets has begun to break up and at least one door in the facility is mouldy. The community claims on rainy days the structure leaks and the waiting area floods.
The blinds that once covered windows in the consultation rooms no longer close, interfering with privacy of patients.
There is also insufficient medicine storage space and no pharmacist or trained personnel to dispense medication.
Nkoloza said there were also staff shortages.
“There are five nurses here, including the manager. They service the entire Nompumelelo community which has over 1000 houses, excluding informal structures; then there is the Ducats and Cintsa communities as well as neighbouring farms.
“More than 300 people come to this clinic each day, a nurse is meant to see 35 patients a day, but they’ve been seeing more,” said Nkoloza. She said staff always go beyond the call of duty, despite the challenges.
Health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said these were managerial issues and would be referred to the attention of the district manager.
Department makes U-turn on axing of clinic manager
Last week the Daily Dispatch reported on the community’s reaction to the ousting of manager Siyanda Botha by writing to the district health manager opposing the removal. Botha was meant to be replaced last Wednesday.
Yesterday, Mzwandile Jack, chairman of the community development forum said: “Siya is still here, but we health delegation to come and communicate with us.”
Jack said although the community was happy the manager had not been removed, there was no telling if it was permanent.
Ward councillor Makhaya Bopi said the community had indicated it would stand by Botha.
“We suspect it’s the letter that was written to the district by the community ,” he said.
Noluvuyo Nkoloza, chairwoman of the clinic committee said as delighted as they were to retain Botha’s services, urgent attention needed to be given to the facility which was built as a temporary structure in 1993.
The Dispatch visited the wooden structure which looked like it had recently been given a fresh coat of paint.
The community confirmed that Good Samaritans had painted it last year on Mandela Day.
Inside however was a different story.
The structure, which comprises three consultation rooms and a waiting room, is beginning to rot from damp.
The wooden wall in one of the toilets has begun to break up and at least one door in the facility is mouldy. The community claims on rainy days the structure leaks and the waiting area floods.
The blinds that once covered windows in the consultation rooms no longer close, interfering with privacy of patients.
There is also insufficient medicine storage space and no pharmacist or trained personnel to dispense medication.
Nkoloza said there were also staff shortages.
“There are five nurses here, including the manager. They service the entire Nompumelelo community which has over 1000 houses, excluding informal structures; then there is the Ducats and Cintsa communities as well as neighbouring farms.
“More than 300 people come to this clinic each day, a nurse is meant to see 35 patients a day, but they’ve been seeing more,” said Nkoloza. She said staff always go beyond the call of duty, despite the challenges.
Health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said these were managerial issues and would be referred to the attention of the district manager.
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