Documentary Premiere: Dignity Denied

File Photo.
Sophia Molefe, who refuses to take her Schizophrenia medication, walks through the streets of Snake Park, Soweto.
Sophia Molefe, who refuses to take her Schizophrenia medication, walking through the streets of Snake Park, Soweto.

A new Health-e News documentary, Dignity Denied, exposes the turmoil this has caused for patients and their families.

Bertha Molefe’s schizophrenic daughter, Sophia, lived at the Life Esidimeni care centre in Randfontein for just over a year. There, she received 24-hour psychological and medical support from trained professionals. Following the termination of the contract, Sophia moved back into her family home in Soweto.

Since the move, Bertha has been struggling to look after her Sophia who has stopped taking her treatment. Symptoms that the pills kept at bay are plaguing her – she’s delusional and sees everything as a threat, even her mother’s attempts to help her.

“She doesn’t want me to control her so how can I help her? I’m her mother I want to help her. Who will help her?” asked Bertha, desperate to get Sophia’s state of health back on track.

While Sophia has gone through a relapse and is visibly suffering, other patients have gone missing.

Abraham Ngqulunga has suffered under the Gauteng Department of Health’s policy of de-institutionalisation. His sister, Mercy, a former Life Esidimeni care centre patient was relocated to an NGO in Fochville. She escaped and Abraham fears she’s now roaming the streets of Johannesburg, suffering the full effects of un-medicated bipolar disorder.

Abraham is distraught, unsure of what to do next. “By now my heart is so sore, you know, because I don’t know where to start looking for her,” he explained. The trauma of the move has been detrimental.

While the Gauteng Department of Health says it’s moving patients out of asylum-like institutions and into NGOs in their communities, experts fear what was intended as a gradual policy has been unreasonably fast-tracked, at the expense of the health and wellbeing of patients.

Dignity Denied exposes the dire predicament of these patients and their families.

Watch the premiere of ‘Dignity Denied’ tonight on Checkpoint, eNCA at 9.30pm and eTV at 10.05pm.

Share your comments on Twitter using #Checkpoint

CHECKPOINT: eNCA at 9.30pm & eTV at 10.05pm

DATE OF BROADCAST: 16 AUGUST 2016

PRODUCER: KYLA HERRMANNSEN

Author

Free to Share

Creative Commons License

Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.


Related

Video: Is it time to cut out sugary drinks?

Is being hospitalised enough motivation to implement tough lifestyle changes – starting with going cold turkey on sugary drinks? We bring you the story of one man who is on the brink of this decision, while his state of health hangs in the balance.

Read More »

Sugary drinks fuel taxi drivers

Taxi drivers spend long hours on the road which often leaves them with very little time to consider a healthy diet, so they turn to sugary drinks for energy and sustenance.

Read More »

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay in the loop

We love that you love visiting our site. Our content is free, but to continue reading, please register.

Newsletter Subscription