Morale among nurses and other health workers at Chuene Clinic in Ga-Chuene outside Polokwane was low as the facility re-opened on Tuesday. The clinic, which operates 24-hours a day, was closed for three days following the abduction and rape of two nurses in the early hours of Friday (10 January).
A staff member at the clinic who asked not to be named tells Health-e News that the decision to open the facility was made on Monday during a meeting among the workers, community leaders and officials from the Limpopo Department of Health.
“Health workers, social workers and other allied health workers have clocked in for duty but the mood is sombre.”
Another worker adds: “We are devastated, afraid and disappointed because we have been complaining to our employer about the lack of security in this clinic. These security officers are not armed and don’t seem to be trained well.”
The 24-hour services at the facility have since been suspended, and the clinic’s opening hours reduced to daytime hours on weekdays.
“This decision prioritises the safety of personnel and acknowledges the ongoing risks faced by both staff and community members,” says provincial health spokesperson Neil Shikwambana in a statement.
Patients informed late about reopening
One of the health workers Health-e News spoke with says they were greeted by an empty clinic on Tuesday morning.
“Not a single patient came for the first three hours after reopening the gates at 7h30 am. This is unusual because normally people crowd at the clinic from 7am when the night shift staff knocks off,” she says.
Noni Chauke (71) who lives in Thokgwaneng says she had already travelled 20 km to Unit B Clinic in Lebowakgomo when she heard the news that Chuene Clinic had reopened.
“I am a chronic patient and my medication has depleted so I couldn’t wait. I took the empty packages and bottles as I had to show nurses at Unit B clinic the type of medication I am taking.”
Brazen attack
According to provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba a single heavily armed man surprised three security officers in their guard room at the clinic gate and tied two of them with their handcuffs in the early hours of Friday (10 January).
“The suspect allegedly instructed a third security guard (female) to accompany him to the clinic premises where two nurses were on duty. He pointed a firearm at the nurses, searched their bags and robbed them of their cell phones before herding them out of the clinic yard on foot at gunpoint, leaving the female security guard behind.
“He then sexually abused them in the bush before fleeing. The two traumatised nurses managed to walk back to the clinic and were later transferred to hospital for medical attention,” Mashaba explains.
The armed robber rapist is still at large.
Health-e News understands from sources that Chuene Clinic has suffered a spate of criminal attacks in the past but no one was harmed.
“Staff members were robbed of cellphones, some cash and also computers belonging to the clinic. To this day no one has been arrested yet,” says a worker.
Civil society organisation, The Eyes of the Nation has condemned the attack on health workers providing essential services.
“A clinic is a place where health services are brought closer to the people and attacks like this are bound to impede the efforts. We call on members of the community to stand up and assist police in their investigations to bring the perpetrator to book,” says chairperson Fannie Kgopa.
A setback for service delivery
“This deplorable incident is a serious setback to our department’s efforts to ensure that clinics can function 24 hours a day. My heart goes out to the two nurses who have suffered immense physical and psychological trauma,” says Health MEC Dikeledi Mashego.
“How can we convince our staff to work night shifts to serve the community if the same community turns against them in such a manner?”
But the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NUPSAW) lays the blame squarely on the Limpopo Department of Health. It accuses the department of cutting corners in the implementation of 24-hour service in clinics.
The service level agreement (SLA) between the department and the outsourced company for security services is grossly flawed, according to NUPSAW.
“There is no gun-armed security presence let alone requisite officers, hence easy access by armed criminals. Chuene Clinic lacks a backup generator, lockable gates, burglar-proof doors and windows, and an emergency safety room.
“Despite these weaknesses, nurses are expected to carry out their duties as usual placing their lives at constant risk,” says Ntata Sekgota, NUPSWA provincial chairperson.
“NUPSAW calls on the Department of Health to take decisive action against those responsible for procuring substandard security SLAs to save money and managers enforcing 24-hour service against safety and security policies,” Sekgota adds.
Department spokesperson Neil Shikwambana didn’t respond to Health-e’s queries about measures to beef up security and to accusations from workers that security companies hired are substandard. – Health-e News
Source:
health-e.org.za
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