Note to Editors: Please find English and Afrikaans soundbites by Haseena Ismail MP here and here
Following an oversight visit to the Magulula Clinic in Ekurhuleni the Democratic Alliance (DA) can only describe the conditions as distressing.
The clinic, that is supposed to service approximately 7000 people in Thulasizwe, Magagula and Montic operates out of what resembles an RDP house in size. Alongside extremely limited space, the clinic faces a myriad of issues.
They include, but are not limited to overcrowding – forcing patients to wait outside in the sun. An incredibly high staff turnover rate, as medical staff refuse to work in the environment, limited to no office space, and severely lacking ablution facilities. Despite best practice dictating that an electricity generator be at least 5 metres away from a building, the clinic’s is less than 1 metre away from a window – a significant health risk.
Infrastructure issues aside, the clinic has no pharmacist, no proper areas to conduct triage, nor space to conduct chronic consultations. Beyond these issues, we have found that:
- No toilets for disabled patients;
- No entrance for disabled patients (patients are picked up whilst in their wheelchairs by security guards to access the clinic) – we have been informed that this has led to patients falling, and injuring themselves;
- No help desk for patients;
- No privacy for patients, meaning that there cannot be any confidentiality; and
- A non-functional water tank, leaving the clinic without water during service delivery interruptions.
In light of these challenges, we intend to work alongside our colleagues in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, who will pose questions regarding the ownership of the small house currently utilised by the clinic and the amount of rent charged. This will be done to with the aim of exploring potential solutions to address the clinic’s most pressing needs.