SELFISH LOCAL POLITICIANS

Sir,

Thank you for allowing me space to voice my concerns in your publication. The Eswatini nation is disturbed by the sudden turn of events where a minister was recently seen promptly granting bucopho and tindvuna teTinkhundla medical cover, which they were demanding. This, as the Eswatini health system is deteriorating due to the perennial inadequate drug and other

supplies shortage in all public institutions; the breaking down of the fleet of ambulances which deeply affects the transferring of clients; the failing Phalala Fund which has been collapsed by corruption by those managing it, as they allegedly collude with some South African health facilities or practitioners to charge government exorbitant fees, leading to deaths that could have been prevented.

Politicians

I was at least expecting that the politicians’ first call would be to advocate for drug availability, building of more clinics as people are still forced to travel many kilometres to a health facility, something which is contrary to agenda 2030. Fresh from the 2018 elections, I was expecting them to make calls that would at least appease the electorate. Little did I know that they just wanted to use the poor ignorant nation as a vehicle to a better life for themselves.

Agree

I agree with the writer who once said; “Leadership is an opportunity to better the lives of others.”
How then will the local health system improve when even the politicians at grassroots level no longer have the feel and experience functioning of the health system? This question stems from the fact that the bucopho would now rarely utilise their local public clinics. I was expecting them to at least join the unions in advocating for a national health insurance for all to access. This is a clear sign that as poor emaSwati, we are on our own indeed; no one cares about us.

Zooming Masanis

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