Kimberley clinics reopen, but CHW go-slow disrupts services

WHILE clinics in Kimberley reopened on Tuesday, community health workers (CHWs) embarked on a go-slow, during which patient files were withheld and patients were unable to access their chronic medication.

Patients questioned who would be held responsible should anyone die.

“We are suffering. We stood in long queues since 5am and when we got to the front, we were given a date to return next month,” they said.

Clinics have been shut down since Friday by protesting CHWs as frustrations escalated over their exclusion from permanent absorption.

A ceremony to induct 595 CHWs who were permanently absorbed on January 26 was halted by Northern Cape Premier Zamani Saul when CHWs who were excluded during the verification process disrupted the induction.

Some CHWs said their contracts were terminated because they did not possess matric certificates, although they were among the first to volunteer for home-based care programmes.

Others added that they had passed Grade 12 but were still waiting to be permanently absorbed.

CHWs waited for over two hours outside the Ministry of Health on Friday for the HOD for Health, Oupa Phiri, to address them.

Phiri indicated that “circumstances did not allow” for the absorption of more CHWs, but committed to meeting with the national Department of Health to seek assistance.

CHWs proceeded to close clinics in the city, saying they were not satisfied with his response.

Tyres were set alight outside clinics on Monday, while patients were prevented from entering and staff were instructed to vacate health facilities.