KWAZAKHELE CLINIC SHUTDOWN

By Siphosethu Vandala

“Kwazakhele Clinic over staff shortages”

About 600 frustrated residents of Kwazakhele took to the streets on Monday, shutting down access to the local clinic and burning tyres in protest against the Eastern Cape health department’s failure to fill vacant positions. The clinic, which serves a vast section of the community, has been plagued by staff shortages, putting patients’ lives at risk.

With only eight nurses, one pharmacist assistant, and a general worker, the clinic is struggling to cope with the demand. Patients have to queue outside the facility from 5am, exposing them to the risk of getting mugged. Residents have even taken to standing guard in the early morning hours to ensure those queuing are safe.

“The slow pace of assisting patients due to the shortage of staff is our main problem,” said Lwando Mange, speaking on behalf of the community. “This is a huge facility that caters to several areas of the community, yet there are only eight nurses. They often can’t take leave, and one person’s absence is felt, and residents have to wait longer for the service.”

The clinic’s committee has written numerous letters and made calls to officials to address the issues, but to no avail. “Every time a nurse is transferred to a different facility, we would call and inquire when a replacement will be brought, and we never get a definite answer,” said Nolusindiso Magida, clinic committee secretary.

Health department officials met with the clinic committee and residents on Tuesday, but the meeting was tense, with residents refusing to be left out of the discussions. Sindiswa Gede, health department district health services chief director, said they were busy with a verification process to check all 48 clinics in Nelson Mandela Bay and would address the staffing issues.

However, residents remain skeptical, and the clinic’s closure has left many patients in a difficult situation. “You can’t chase people away because you have a grievance, what about the sickly people who desperately need their medication?” asked Ward 17 councillor Gamalihleli Maqula.

The health department has promised to look into the staffing issues and find a solution, but for now, patients continue to suffer.