Nurses under fire for  'bad' treatment at rural clinics

Noluntu Mpusu, a mother from Qumbu in the former Transkei region, claims she was once shouted at by a rude nurse after she rocked up in a clinic suffering from a terrible headache Picture: SIKHO NTSHOBANE
Noluntu Mpusu, a mother from Qumbu in the former Transkei region, claims she was once shouted at by a rude nurse after she rocked up in a clinic suffering from a terrible headache Picture: SIKHO NTSHOBANE

By SIKHO NTSHOBANE

The mistreatment of patients by "disrespectful" nurses in rural clinics in and around the O R Tambo district was among some of the issues raised by participants during the last day of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians  gender advocacy dialogue in Mthatha.

59-year-old Noluntu Mpusu, an elderly woman from Qumbu, said she had once been scolded by a nurse at a local clinic in the area after suffering from a terrible headache.

"It was just after 2pm and the nurse was furious asking why I had fallen sick so late in the day. My response was that I couldn't have known that I was to suffer from a headache on that particular day and therefore had no way of knowing when to get sick," she told a crowd of more than 100 people who attended the dialogue.

She said many rural women in particular who flocked to clinics near their villagers were often verbally abused by rowdy and disrepectful nurses.

"They forget we were once young  and beautiful. We wish government can do something about that."

Meanwhile, Imbumba Yamakhosikazi Akomkhulu president Queen MaDosini Ndamase saidthe  rural women were also victimised when going to report cases of abuse and sexual assault in police stations because there were no private consulting rooms.

"In the end, they just opt not to report crimes committed against them because when they go to the police stations, they have to say whatever they have to say in front of everyone."

Eastern Cape Premier Phumulo Masualle was billed to address the event but was unable to attend.

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