Teboho Setena
Power has been restored at the Embekweni Hospital in Zastron after more than three months of disruption. The Free State Department of Health has confirmed the restoration of electricity supply, after an issue with the transformer was resolved.
This was resolved by the newly appointed service provider that replaced Centlec in the Mohokare Local Municipality. During the period in question the hospital was forced to use generators to provide critical health services.
http://The hospital was forced to use generators to provide critical health services.
Mondli Mvambi, spokesperson for the department, said the hospital experienced significant challenges due to prolonged electricity outages, which lasted approximately 90 days.
“The Embekweni Hospital has been operating on generator power during this period. The entire town of Zastron was affected by power outages,” confirmed Mvambi.
He described the situation as “a grave inconvenience to the department” whose budget is supposed to be used for patient care, medicines and food.
“Consequently, this has posed serious challenges for the department, as essentials in the created budget meant for patient care, medications, and food have been diverted to manage the crisis.”
Mvambi said the report received was that the issue pertained to the voltage levels transmitted to the transformer from which the hospital receives power.
“Electricity supply has been restored to normal levels. The Embekweni Hospital is now benefiting from consistent electricity with correct voltage levels, resulting in brighter lights and improved operational capacity. We are all depending on the municipality for water and electricity.”
According to Mvambi, the matter was resolved after the MEC for Health, Monyatso Mahlatsi, took steps on 22 April to address the situation by engaging with both the Mohokare Local Municipality and Eskom.
According to Ian Riddle, DA councillor in Mohokare, the findings revealed the substation in the region had been faulty and was not replaced as it was supposed to have been in March.
“The hospital has been forced to rely on its generator for power, at a great cost. The Free State MEC for Health, when he visited the hospital, expressed his shock. Residents of Mohokare have a fundamental human right to access to healthcare services under Section 27 of the Constitution,” said Riddle.
