24-hour clinic to open in Limpopo

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“Gone are days were our people are told to come back the following day when they visit clinics during the night because ‘they are not dying,'” said Limpopo MEC for Roads and Transport Lehlogonolo Masoga, who opened the clinic.

Damani Clinic Board Member Tshilidzi Maphangul says the old clinic was first built in 1996, following the initiative of the late chief Mudinda Ramagwede. It opened more than ten years later in July 2009.

Before the clinic was built, community members would walk for more than 15 kilometres to Makonde Clinic.

A new clinic building was completed late last year and now serves more than 6,000 community members from eleven villages.

Alidzuli Munyai attended the new clinic’s opening and said he hopes it is up and running soon.

“I am happy that we are going to get service 24 (hours a day),” Munyai told OurHealth. “Before, it was difficult to get medical attention from the clinic after hours.”

Limpopo MEC for Roads and Transport, Lehlogonolo Masoga, officially handed the new clinic over on behalf of MEC for Health and Social Welfare Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba.

Masoga asked the community to take care of the facility so that it could be used for generations to come.

“As government, we provided this clinic to make sure that you get easy access to health services in your own village,” he told OurHealth. “There is a strong fence and security officer on guard for twenty-four hours, but the most important security is you, the community members.”

Masoga encouraged nurses and the community to maintain good relationships through service delivery and respect.

“We expect nurses to be kind to you,” he said. “We also believe that our community will respect our nurses so that there will a good working relationship.”

According to Masoga, arrangements are being finalised to begin 24-hour care at the clinic.

“Gone are days were our people are told to come back the following day when they visit clinics during the night because ‘they are not dying,’” he added.

Author

Ndivhuwo Mukwevho

Ndivhuwo Mukwevho is citizen journalist who is based in the Vhembe District of Limpopo province. He joined OurHealth in 2015 and his interests lie in investigative journalism and reporting the untold stories of disadvantaged rural communities. Ndivhuwo holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Studies from the University of Venda and he is currently a registered student with UNISA.
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