Lives at risk after 'sabotage' at Douglas health centre, says dept

THE NORTHERN Cape Department of Health has condemned what it described as “acts of sabotage” at the Douglas Community Health Centre (CHC), where the lives of patients are being compromised.

The Health and Other Services Personnel Trade Union of South Africa (Hospersa) last week highlighted various challenges at the facility, including shortages of food, water, linen, and diesel.

The MEC for Health, Maruping Lekwene, visited the facility on Tuesday, where he condemned “misleading reports that caused unnecessary public anxiety”. 

The Pixley ka Seme district director for the Department of Health, Sheila McCloen, explained that oxygen pipes at the hospital were burned, resulting in the oxygen supply being short-circuited.

“The CHC is faced with serious malicious acts, where the pipes that supply water and oxygen to the facility are being tampered with. This is causing further frustration to operations at the CHC and compromising the quality of services,” said McCloen.

She added that they were awaiting the outcome of a police investigation into the tampering of hospital infrastructure.

“We are currently making use of mobile oxygen machines. These malicious acts are putting patients’ lives at risk,” she said.

McCloen indicated that a local supplier provides food to the hospital on a weekly basis.

“This is to ensure that there is no wastage and the vegetables do not become rotten.” 

She stated that the water supply issues were linked to municipal operations that had affected the entire town.

“The water supply has been restored. We also have 25-litre containers available for flushing toilets, as well as for drinking and hand-washing purposes for staff and patients,” said McCloen.

She explained that due to low water pressure, the linen was transported to the laundry in Griekwastad every second day.

“We procure diesel in Douglas to fuel the generator when there are power outages,” she added.