MBABANE PHU: A BLOT ON THE LANDSCAPE

Sir,
The Mbabane Public Health Unit (PHU) stands as a stark reminder of neglect and indifference, a blot on the landscape of healthcare in the country. This facility, crucial for providing essential services such as childhood vaccinations, prenatal care and family planning, has fallen into a state of disrepair, which is deeply concerning. What should be a place of healing and help has become a source of concern and a potential health hazard for the very people it is meant to serve. The most visible symbol of this decay is the collapsed tent, a skeletal frame lying flat on the ground that surprisingly, fell on things like desks and chairs that were used there. It fell, I am told, due to weather elements.

Tests

This tent was very useful at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, where people who were going out of the country used to flock to get their tests done, a time when hygiene and public health were of paramount importance. Yet, it remains there still, a testament to the apparent lack of responsibility and maintenance. This neglected structure is not just an eyesore; it has reportedly become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, posing a risk of disease transmission, especially concerning given the unit’s role in public health. One has to wonder, where are the grounds men? Why has this hazard been allowed to fester for so long?

Neglect

The neglect extends beyond the fallen tent. The benches where patients sit, often for extended periods, awaiting their turn to see a healthcare provider, are reportedly filthy. Disturbingly, these benches are said to be littered with cotton wool used in HIV testing, raising serious concerns about hygiene and infection control. This is particularly alarming given the vulnerability of many patients visiting the PHU. And perhaps most distressing is the fact that babies receive their vaccinations at the PHU. These infants, with their still-developing and compromised immune systems, are being subjected to an environment that is far from sterile. The idea that newborns, the most vulnerable members of our community, are being exposed to such unsanitary conditions in a healthcare setting is simply unacceptable. It undermines the very purpose of vaccinations – to protect children from disease – when the environment itself poses a potential health risk.

Questions

The state of the Mbabane PHU raises serious questions about accountability and management. How can such blatant disregard for hygiene and public health be allowed to persist? The presence of a collapsed tent, the dirty waiting area and the unsanitary vaccination space all point to a systemic failure. The people of Mbabane deserve better. They deserve a clean, safe and functional healthcare facility. The current state of the PHU is not only a blot on the landscape; it is a blot on the conscience of those responsible for its upkeep. Urgent action is needed to rectify this situation and restore the Mbabane PHU to its intended purpose: A place of healing and hope.

Concerned patient

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