Operating in an old dilapidated building, Sibasa Clinic currently has only one working toilet, forcing male and female patients to share. The rural clinic, which services more than five villages within the Vhembe district, used to have two toilets. But the male toilet was damaged and has been left unrepaired.

Sibasa, Dzingahe, Miluwani and Makwarela are among the villages that are heavily reliant on the clinic for health services. The high number of people sharing the one single working toilet every day has resulted in it being filthy. The smell around it has also become unbearable according to those who visit the clinic.

Sibasa Clinic, despite having been around for many years, has never undergone renovations and the building has become dilapidated. A security guard stationed at the clinic said he was concerned about men and women being forced to share a single toilet all day.

Worrying

“It’s a worrying situation seeing men and women queuing to use just one toilet as we cannot be guarding it at all times. What if someone is attacked inside? Something needs to be done urgently to address the situation. We cannot carry on like this”, he said.

The security guard added: “We are also worried about the state of the buildings, as the clinic is very old. But as security guards, there is nothing we can do as our job is only to look after the safety of patients.”

Many male patients who visit the clinic have resorted to urinating outside in the open to avoid standing in the queue.  The district communications manager, Avhatakali Marole said that they were worried that unknown people vandalised the clinic loo for no apparent.

“We have already sent plumbers to the clinic and they will be repairing the toilets very soon as they have already got the materials. It worries us that people still continue to vandalise government infrastructure leaving our people to suffer in the process”, said Marole. – Health-e News.