PATIENTS SUBJECTED TO HARSH CONDITIONS AT SITHOBELA

MBABANE – Patients are made to endure harsh weather conditions before being attended to.

This is the scenario at Sithobela Health Centre, which is situated in the Sithobela Constituency.

Almost every day, patients are made to queue outside the centre’s premises because they first need to undergo a COVID-19 screening process.

A resident, Thabiso Manana, who had accompanied a relative to the health facility, said they had to endure the blazing heat while waiting to gain access into the centre.

Queue

“We spent almost an hour standing outside because the queue was moving at a snail’s pace. 

“It was a sorry sight. There were more other patients compared to my brother in the queue,” Manana explained.

Manana mentioned that even the elderly were not spared from what he termed a long and cumbersome journey to the doctor.

Asked why he had described the trip as cumbersome, Manana clarified that the patients had to endure the scorching sun.

Sharing the same sentiments, Sithobela Member of Parliament (MP) Bhekitje Dlamini said recently temperatures were estimated at 40 degrees celsius. 

“Imagine you are sick and standing under such heat. This could worsen someone’s condition,” Dlamini said before confirming that he was aware of the matter.

He opined that chairs should at least be provided so that people could sit while waiting for their turn to see the doctor.

Elaborating, Dlamini said the patients breathe a sigh of relief the moment they enter the centre’s premises.

At this point, the MP said, shelter in the form of a tent was provided to the people. 

However, he said someone had recently removed the tent, which was pitched on the premises.

“I do not know who took it and why. I hope it will be pitched up again,” he expressed hope.

Dlamini mentioned that he had tried numerous times to engage the Ministry of Health about the prevailing situation at the Sithobela Health Centre.

“All was in vain”, Dlamini said.

The politician, who is also a member of the portfolio committee on health, said the ministry should understand that many of people used the health centre.

Besides Sithobela, Dlamini said the health facility serviced communities such Siphofaneni, Sigwe, Ngudzeni, Lubuli and some people even travel from Manzini. 

“I do not understand why the ministry is not reacting. This is very painful,” he said when describing the situation.

Loans

Dlamini said they, as politicians, had approved COVID-19- related funds which would help the residents.

Seemingly, Dlamini said, the money was not assisting his community – Sithobela Constituency.

He claimed that he once questioned the ministry about this, but some of government officials felt offended.

A nurse, who asked not to be identified because he was not mandated to speaking to the media, confided to this publication that patients were made to queue outside of the health centre.

“This was done as part of precautionary measure in preventing the spread of COVID-19. However, a tent has been provided,” the nurse said.

The nurse explained that the new regulations stipulates that they should have a manageable number of patients within the premises. 

Joseph Tfwala, the Chairperson of Sithobela Community Health Committee, also said he was aware of the matter.

Tfwala disclosed that they had donated a tent to the clinic.

Further, he said they managed to allocate a portion of land where a proper shelter would be set up.

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