Staff have battled for three weeks to treat patients at the Hillbrow Community Health Centre as there is no electricity and generators only provide power for a few hours during the day.
I visited the clinic this morning after receiving complaints. Corridors are dark and staff have to use their cellphones to get around.
See photos here, here and here.
The X-rays at casualty cannot be used, which puts patients at risk. Doctors have to stitch up wounds in dim light.
I saw one monitor for a casualty patient that was working on battery power, but another monitor could not be used.
Pap smears can only be done for the short periods when there is generator power.
I was told that City Power was owed R2 million, so their power was cut off. There also seems to be a cable problem.
It is outrageous that this power problem has gone on for so long, compromising treatment for patients and putting lives at risk.
The payment issue should have been settled immediately, and generator problems sorted out as well.
This highlights the need for good financial management and efficient maintenance at health facilities.