Six healthcare facilities are operating with skeleton staff as some of
healthcare workers could not get to work due to a community protest that has
blocked roads in Mbizana as from yesterday, till today, January 31.
According to the spokesperson for the MEC, Mkhululi Ndamase, community
members in need of medical attention and ambulances also cannot get to the six
facilities because of the blocked roads in the Mbhongweni/Meje area.
“Only nurses who live in the nurses’ home and nearby the facilities were
able to report for duty. The blockading of roads has compromised the quality of
services and put lives at risk. The motive for the protest is unknown,” said
Ndamase.
Eastern Cape Department of Health MEC,
Nomakhosazana Meth has condemned the closure of roads.
“We acknowledge that people have the right to protest but when they do,
they must not infringe on other people’s rights, because of the protest an
ambulance could not manage to go to Meje Community Health Centre to transport
to the next level of care, a boy (12) that is vomiting blood and whose body is
swollen,” said Meth.
Meth said that an EMS chopper was being arranged to pick up the victim.
The affected facilities are Meje Community Health Centre, Daliwonga
Clinic, Mpetsheni Clinic, Mandengane Clinic, Khanyayo Clinic and Baleni
Clinic.
