Molefi Sompane
The Mofumahadi Manapo Mopeli Regional Hospital in QwaQwa has got its naysayers out in full force following reports of old equipment and the low morale of health workers. As the walls fall in, poverty-stricken residents are too afraid to seek medical attention from the hospital. Community members, who were previously hospitalised, shared their ordeals with Health-e News. The majority have regretted ever having set foot there. Horror stories Katleho Mokoena, 29, was hospitalised for four months. He said he struggled to eat by himself and nurses often mocked him. “They left me to starve and they wouldn’t give me food even when they could see I was unable to eat by myself. I’d only eat when my mother came,” he said. Another resident, Nonyane Lephike from Phuthaditjhaba, said her sister was admitted and she was shocked to see the conditions. “I went to visit my sister and witnessed careless
People living with HIV in the Free State have raised their grievances via the Free State Department of Health’s multi-sectoral forum held last week. Several patients have exposed shocking truths regarding their treatment at clinics across the province. Tshepo Rabotapi, who is on antiretroviral treatment (ARV), claimed nurses revealed his personal information at the Batho Clinic in Mangaung. “Some of us don’t use the facility anymore because nurses share our information with their friends. Patient files containing confidential information are shared among workers,” he said. He appealed to Health MEC Montseng Tsiu to move staff to other clinics. “I think the department would do justice if it can move all the workers to other clinics so they can take some time and learn patient services,” he added. ARV delays Maria Gaaf added that there are delays to the distribution of ARVS, and clinics deny patients the right to access it
An LGBTQI sexual violence survivor and activist is fighting tooth and nail to raise awareness about the challenges they face in their communities. Sexual violence affects every demographic in South Africa. But according to Queen Beyonce Tovhowani Makondo, lesbian, gay and bisexual people face even higher rates. A life dedicated to awareness Makondo, 27, has given her life to raising awareness about the lives of the LGBTQI community. As a young person, she grew up being denied access to healthcare facilities because she was gay. “I’d be called all sorts of things and one day I was told to stay alone in a service room at the clinic because a male nurse said he cannot help any s $&%t man,” she said. Makondo had a near-death experience when a man pulled out a knife eight years ago. “I was stabbed in 2014 just because I’m gay. Ever since then, I’ve
With no end to load shedding in the foreseeable future in South Africa, the community of QwaQwa was hopeful when the procurement of generators was announced. But this glimmer of hope has turned into a tunnel of darkness following the theft of generators, leaving 28 clinics stranded. This is the latest devastating financial blow to hit the province in its efforts to provide quality health care. Storage of medication is severely affected. The generators provide power to keep cold storage units running for medication requiring refrigeration. But instead, nurses have been forced to make use of cooler boxes. Dr Hendrita Matshoba, the Elizabeth Ross District Hospital CEO, expressed her frustration. The hospital and its staff, which supports the 28 local clinics, are under severe strain during the ongoing power cuts. “Given the current load-shedding situation, generators were procured for clinics, but they were stolen. Maybe they were stolen for home
Free State residents are reaching the end of their tether as they search for water – life’s most basic natural resource. Clinics have also been severely affected while patients scurry to find facilities that aren’t water-stricken. The suburb of Moemaneng near Marquard in the Eastern Free State has been hit hard. Out of desperation, locals travel long distances in search of water and residents are forced to use Mamello Primary Healthcare Centre, the only facility where taps aren’t dry. Tshidiso Thulo, a father of two, said the water shortages began five years ago. The 39-year-old thought health facilities would be prioritised. “The municipality should’ve prioritised clinics with water so that they can continue operating. I took my daughter for her toddler injections and was diverted to the clinic in town,” Thulo said. Digging deep He added that the closure of the Nothnagel and Kokelong clinics had forced residents to fork
Elderly people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia face a double burden of memory loss, and stigma and discrimination. Thomas Selogilwe, who resides in Thaba Nchu, is concerned for the welfare of his 81-year-old neighbour, Magaret Molema. He was roped in by social workers to help Molema when she started losing her memory. “Gogo was found not too far from her place, and because no one knew about her problem, they called her a witch. I also realised that some had beaten her. Our people need to know that when you reach a certain age, your mind is not working as it used. Knowing about diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia will prevent people from calling others names,” said Selogile. Dementia and Alzheimer’s explained Dementia is considered a general term, while Alzheimer’s is a specific brain disease. It is marked by symptoms of dementia that gradually get worse over time. Alzheimer’s disease
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Teams consisting of emergency medical services, health, disaster management, and search and rescue personnel remain on the ground in Jagersfontein, where a mining dam wall collapsed on Sunday. Three people died in the incident in the Free State mining town. President Cyril Ramaphosa will visit the area Monday. Four people are missing; 23 patients were treated for hypothermia, and four for broken legs. A flooded power station has left the town without electricity. Several houses collapsed, and the main road into the town is flooded. Medicine delivery Provincial health department spokesperson Mondli Mvambi said mobile clinics were sent to the area to assist in delivering medication. Mvambi said some patient files were destroyed, and some medication was lost at the local clinic. The extent of this is not yet known. “This has affected everybody, and the department is sending medical packs for help. We are urging everyone not to go
As medico-legal claims continue to pile up in hospitals across the country, Bloemfontein’s Pelonomi Hospital is no different with several accounts from dissatisfied patients painting a grim picture. Not too long ago, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) warned the Free State Department of Health of looming legal costs if matters didn’t improve in facilities in the province. In July, Health-e News reported on the visit as SAHRC Chairperson Advocate, Bongani Majola, witnessed the crumbling infrastructure. Two months on, nothing has changed. ‘Patients will die due to negligence have Earlier this week, patients once again shared horror stories taking place at the hospital’s casualty section. Thapi Segopolo described the scenes when he visited the hospital last week. “I took my two-year-old nephew to the hospital last Wednesday. While we were there, one patient fell to the floor and started having a seizure because they ignored her. Doctors tried to
The Universitas Academic Hospital in Bloemfontein has been at the forefront of knee replacement surgery and has kept up with technological advances over the years. Their most recent beneficiary is a domestic abuse survivor who has been waiting for five years and a chance to turn her life around. Kele Khoaele’s knee was broken during a domestic violence dispute, and the incident subsequently plunged her family into poverty. Since her groundbreaking surgery, she hopes she can secure employment. Khoaele said what broke her heart the most was that her mother had to help her to the bathroom. Depending on others for help “I’d pray for death because I never thought I’ll b like a child or infant who is only given or fed by their parents at a particular time,” she said. Visiting the Universitas Academic Hospital for endless checkups also proved difficult for Khoaele. She slowly lost hope. “At
Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, took to the streets of Bloemfontein yesterday, in protest against illegal abortions in the province, removing advertisements promoting illegal abortion services. Concern has been mounting over the number of bogus doctors offering illegal and unsafe abortions in the Free State. Free State Health MEC, Montsheng Tsiu, who joined the march, hopes the campaign will encourage young people to use sexual reproductive health services offered by the state. These include contraceptives in the fight against sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancies and unsafe pregnancy termination. Pregnancies, illegal abortions on the rise The Free State is one of five provinces with a high rate of teenage pregnancies. As a result, the number of illegal abortions is also on the rise. Dhlomo said young people need advice on safe sex measures, and urged the youth to use youth-friendly services offered by clinics. “Our clinics have dedicated youth-friendly
Qwa-Qwa residents claim that nothing has changed since the Mofumahadi Manapo Hospital was declared a National Health Insurance (NHI) pilot by former Health Minister, Zweli Mkhize. The people of Phuthaditjhaba have labelled the move nothing but a publicity stunt. When the disgraced Mkhize made the announcement, he promised locals that specialists would be appointed for various ailments and conditions. However, the patients claim that they still travel to Bethlehem’s Dihlabeng District Hospital or others in Bloemfontein since nothing has changed. People’s needs ‘forgotten’ Resident, Teboho Mokoloko, accuses the National Department of Health of not prioritising people’s needs and not allowing them to benefit from the NHI as the bill states. “We were taken for fools when the minister announced how NHI piloting will benefit the people of the eastern Free State. Ever since the announcement, the hospital still has doctors who work at Manapo, Dihlabeng and Elizabeth Ross,” he said.
The Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein has been rocked by yet another horror incident after a female patient’s bed caught fire and died. While authorities wait for investigations to begin, patients and staff members are struggling to come to terms with what happened. There are also plenty of theories swirling about as well as cover-up speculations. This latest episode is another major blow for the hospital and the Free State Department of Health. Earlier this month, a man fell to his death from the seventh floor of the building. Health-e-News also reported on the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC)’s visit to several Free State health facilities as the province’s infrastructure collapses. Screaming patients According to the health department’s spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, the incident is under investigation. He said workers were alerted by the screaming of other patients. “We can confirm that the 47 year-old-female patient died at Pelonomi Hospital, not