The Khujwana Clinic remains unfazed by the numerous complaints of staff taking lunch and forcing patients to wait. Not even a sit-in staged by the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) got their attention at the Tzaneen-based health facility.

At one stage, there was only one nurse available causing patients to wait for treatment for hours at end. The TAC jumped in as a result and aired their gripes as patients’ rights continue to be violated.

TAC takes aim

Rebecca Hlugwani from the TAC was all guns blazing during the sit-in during September.

“We are concerned about how the clinic is operating and the constant violation of the rights of the patients. We will engage with the clinic management and committee about such matters,”  she said.

Hlungwani added that due to the barrage of complaints lodged by patients, they’d be visiting the clinic for further engagement soon.

“We will meet with them next week Monday, I will keep you updated,” said Hlungwani.

The Limpopo Department of Health spokesperson, Neil Shikwambani, failed to respond to any questions directed at him.

Residents add their voice

Residents have added their voices as the clinic continues to ignore the outcry.

“The service at Khujwana Clinic is very disturbing because you don’t know what to expect.  They ony start work at 9:30 and sometimes only one nurse is on duty. They also take lunch all at the same time leaving patients stranded,” said a Khujwana resident, who requested to remain anonymous.

Another patient, who brought his daughter to have her bandages replaced, left the facility unassisted.

“I went to the clinic at around 11am. We weren’t many in the queue but when it was my turn, they all went on lunch. My fellow patients told me that it’s not unusual and sometimes they stay away for two hours. That’s when I decided to go home because that is unacceptable,” said the father.

“The situation is bad. We can blame the nurses all we want, but the department needs to employ more of them,” he added.

According to the recent Ritshidze report, 94% of facility managers interviewed in Limpopo, said that they don’t have enough clinical and non-clinical staff to meet the needs of patients.

Only 32% of patients – of the 385 interviewed – believed there were enough staff members at facilities.  This varied greatly across districts with Vhembe at 53%, Capricorn at 27% and only 8% in Mopani. – Health-e News