Eastern Cape

Patients forced to sleep on the floor

Health Systems, Our Health

EASTERN CAPE – Patients from rural Mbizana, who rely on state transport to get them to Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Umthatha for specialist treatment, have to sleep on the floor while they wait for an ambulance.

Zizo Zikali
June 12, 2018

EC schools need billions to replace pit latrines

Our Health

More than 3000 schools in the Eastern Cape Province – about 60% of all schools in the province – don’t have proper sanitation.

Asavela Dalana
June 7, 2018

State is also ‘captured’ by incompetence

News

Twenty three years after South Africa’s first democratic elections, many Eastern Cape residents still live in dire poverty – held hostage as much by incompetent officials as corrupt ones. Is there any political will to turn the country’s poorest municipalities around?

kerrycullinan
February 5, 2018

The hell suffered by patients at Holy Cross Hospital

Health Systems, News

Sick patients have been forced to leave their beds at the Holy Cross Hospital and head outside to a nearby stream to fetch their own water because taps in the government health facility ran dry.

healthe
April 10, 2017

National inquiry to be launched into emergency medical services

Health Systems

The South African Human Rights Commission will launch a national investigation into the state of emergency medical services (EMS) after finding just 200 of about 416 Eastern Cape public ambulances are functional in the province of 6.5 million people.

lauralopez
October 2, 2015

Documentary premiere: Dying in our homes

Health, Health Systems

Amid a dire shortage of ambulances in the Eastern Cape patients’ lives are at risk as many calls for help go unanswered. A new Health-e News documentary, Dying In Our Homes, reveals the impact on the lives of rural families.

kyla
October 1, 2015

Shots in the Dark? A look at vaccines in the Eastern Cape

Health, News

As part of a national Health-e investigation, we travel to the Eastern Cape to explore vaccine stock-outs and storage problems - and watch what one doctor is doing to help rural mums.

fathimasimjee
March 14, 2014

Statement: Coalition responds to EC Dept. of Health

Health

Documents presented to Parliament's Standing Committee on Health by the Eastern Cape Health Crisis Coalition.

healthe
November 6, 2013

MPs suggest Eastern Cape Health MEC step down

Health, Health Systems

Members of Parliament yesterday questioned whether Eastern Cape leadership was up to the task of addressing health service challenges identified by a national task team.

kerrycullinan
October 31, 2013

EC Health Department “misses” deadline

Health

The Eastern Cape Department of Health has missed a civil society deadline to release a plan to fix the province’s crumbling health services, say activists.

lauralopez
October 14, 2013

E Cape: “It’s us in the rural areas who suffer most”

Health, Our Health

OurHealth citizen journalist Mtshama Mvlisi covers the Eastern Cape’s OR Tambo District. He works and lives in one of the country’s worst health districts.

mtshanamvlisi
September 26, 2013
1 Comment

National department of health unveils rescue plan for Eastern Cape

Health

The national department of health has announced more than one billion rand to fix the Eastern Cape’s health system as an emergency task team unearths more problems.

lauralopez
September 20, 2013

October deadline set for ECape health rescue plan

Health

BHISHO - The Eastern Cape provincial government has until 12 October to formulate a plan to fix the province’s faltering health services after the province’s new Head of Health, Dr. Thobile Mbengashe, accepted a memorandum in Bhisho on Friday.

lauralopez
September 16, 2013

Baby’s death sparks national campaign to fix the Eastern Cape

Health, Health Systems

Dr. Dingeman Rijken will always remember baby Ikho. Now, following the infant's death at the hands of a failing health system, a national campaign will ensure others don't forget him either.

lauralopez
September 11, 2013
1 Comment

Eastern Cape clinics face widespread shortages

Health, Health Systems

Pilani Clinic is often the first point of care for patients from the Eastern Cape's Coffee Bay area but it is often not their last as systemic shortages fuel a referral system that is costing patient lives and money.

healthe
September 11, 2013

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