Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English and Setswana by Sefofu Modisa
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Moretele urges the North West Department of Health to urgently conduct an inspection on all clinics in Moretele to address hazardous conditions, staff shortages, and infrastructure failures. We have written to DA North West Spokesperson on Health, Hendriëtte van Huyssteen to escalate this matter to the North West Department of Health. (See attached letter.)
The councillors in Moretele have taken on the task of visiting various clinics across Moretele, covering both rural areas and semi-urban areas. Despite location differences, the challenges are more or less the same in these facilities.
All clinics have two security guards on duty, which poses a risk to personnel. We call on the Department of Health to verify whether there is an official agreement in place for two security personnel to be deployed per clinic during both day and night.
We have witnessed an unacceptable deterioration of ablution facilities at Maubane Clinic. All toilets for both staff and patients are in a disastrous state. Patients are exposed to hazardous environments that threaten their health.
The clinic’s ceiling is on the verge of collapsing, the roof tiles outside are visibly in a decaying state and are at risk of falling anytime. The electricity also poses serious safety concerns, with non-functional lights in some rooms.
The clinic yard is not to the standard of a health facility, with no groundsman to maintain it. Even the pathway to the toilets is overgrown with grass, making access difficult.
Staff shortage in the clinic needs urgent attention as the clinic operates with only 3 nurses and one overwhelmed administrative, leading to compromised file management and basic operation.
The state of Maubane clinic reflects poorly on the current government’s priorities and a bad representation in this era of modern dispensation.
The DA will continue to fight to restore dignity, safety, and functional clinics for both patients and staff.