Times Of Swaziland: WHERE DOES ‘NKWE’ APPLY, AS HEALTH CRISIS CONTINUES?

WHERE DOES ‘NKWE’ APPLY, AS HEALTH CRISIS CONTINUES?
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Emmanuel Ndlangamandla on 14/10/2024 13:20:00


We woke up to depressing news headline on Wednesday, October 9, 2024,
‘Government hospital suspends dialysis, surgeries’. This is because critical
theatre drugs, such as anesthetics, and other medical supplies were out of
stock. When the Renal Association SG was engaged on the life changing decision,
he was quoted as having said: ‘The only option we have at this moment is
death’. He was referring to renal patients whose lives wholly depend on
dialysis. In order to understand the gravity of this decision, let us explain
what dialysis and surgery is? According to Wikipedia, dialysis is the process of
removing excess water, solutes and toxins from the blood in people whose kidneys
can no longer perform these functions naturally.  It is a type of renal
replacement therapy.
Function
Dialysis may need to be initiated when there is a sudden rapid loss of kidney
function, known as acute kidney injury (previously called acute renal failure)
or when a gradual decline in kidney function, chronic kidney failure.  Dialysis
is used as a temporary measure in either acute kidney injury or in those
awaiting kidney transplant and as a permanent measure in those for whom a
transplant is not indicated or not possible”. Surgery according to Britannica;
‘is branch of medicine that is concerned with the treatment of injuries,
diseases and other disorders by manual and instrumental means. Surgery involves
the management of acute injuries and illnesses as differentiated from chronic,
slowly progressing diseases, except when patients with the latter type of
disease must be operated upon’.  Wikipedia also defines surgery ‘as a
medical specialty that uses manual and instrumental techniques to diagnose or
treat pathological conditions (e.g., trauma, disease, injury, malignancy), to
alter bodily functions and to remove unwanted tissues’.
Defined
Dialysis and surgery are, therefore, life saving measures, as defined above.  A
patient with serious health conditions requiring any of these medical
interventions, are supposed to get the services as urgently as possible because,
if they are not able to access the health service, they might die. I recall that
at the beginning of term by the current administration, a subcommittee led by
Honourable Senator Manqoba Khumalo was established to ascertain the nurture of
the drugs and medical supplies crisis and proffer corrective measures.  The new
administration gave emaSwati the assurance that the drug crisis was on top of
her agenda.  Just a week ago, the minister of Health assured Parliament  that
the drug shortage was being attended to but pleaded with the government to 
allocate additional funds to clear old debts.
I also recall that His Majesty King Mswati III, during the opening of the 12th
Parliament, gave a clear policy direction regarding access to health when he
said; ‘no liSwati should die from lack of proper health services’ and that
government will work towards ensuring that every liSwati has “access to
quality health care as and when they need it without financial or service
difficulty” as per the nation’s call at Sibaya”.  This was a clear
directive to the government that the health crisis is not acceptable.  A clear
message that life for every liSwati is precious and hence, no life should be
needlessly lost due to lack of access to proper health care.The government has
at every opportunity it got informed the nation that the Administration is
driven by the ‘nkwe’ ethos, which entails moving with lightning speed in
addressing national issues.  Hence, the question I posed today: “When does
‘nkwe’ apply then”.  It is inconceivable that lifesaving drugs can be out
of stock such that a hospital can officially suspend dialysis and surgeries.
Then government only issues an apology.  Is this government admission that it
has failed to address the health crisis?
Embrace
The government is pleading with emaSwati to be patriotic and to also fully
embrace the governing system.  Patriotism should not mean emaSwati must accept
even government failure that is detrimental to their lives.  Those who call for
change do so because government failures continue to worsen.  Hence, the call
for a system that will foster accountability, transparency, will allow
people’s protest, and a government that can be punished at the polls for its
failures, just as the African National Congress has been punished by the South
Africans.  I feel pity for the minister of Health and his officials because one
can tell they are helpless. It is even disheartening for the health
professionals including doctors, nurses and other auxiliary staff who are
trained to save lives but find themselves informing   patients facing life
threatening conditions that facility has suspended services due to lack of
essential drugs. Are emaSwati paying with their lives for being ‘silent’ in
the face of serious government failures?  Can’t the electorate pressure
elected members of Parliament to act?