CONFUSION AS OPD CLOSED AT GOVT HOSPITAL

MBABANE – The Mbabane Government Hospital Out-Patient Department (OPD) has been closed indefinitely. 

Confusion reigned supreme yesterday as patients and nurses did not know what to do as the only two rooms used for emergencies and consultations had accommodated patients who tested positive for COVID-19. 

What caused the misunderstanding was that the hospital continued to accept the patients who paid for services, but when they reached the OPD, they were told that it was closed. 

An outpatient department is the part a hospital designed for treatment of patients who may not require a bed or to be admitted overnight. This is not the first time the OPD closes following suspected COVID-19 cases. About a week ago patients were stranded as the department closed for almost two days. 

Stranded 

Nurses working at the OPD were stranded since Wednesday, after four suspected cases of COVID-19 were identified and isolated in the area reserved for outpatients. Following the surge in COVID-19 positive cases in the country, the hospital administration transformed the entire OPD to isolate patients who tested positive for the virus.  There was only one-room reserved for emergencies and another for consultation of outpatients.

These too have also been taken, which has resulted in the nurses having no place to attend to patients.  

In an interview with some of the patients, they expressed their disappointment in the hospital which is regarded as a referral and the biggest in the country. They complained of poor communication, stating that they were made to stand in the queue and pay for consultation, yet the hospital was aware of the service interruption.

Most of the patients said they were hoping to see doctors for their various ailments which was why they had opted to visit the hospital.

Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) National Organising Secretary Mayibongwe Masangane, said it was unfortunate that at the end of the day, the patients suffered. Masangane said the challenge was that government was slow when it came to responding to critical issues.  

He said what was challenging the most was that the COVID-19 patients were accruing with other general patients who visited the hospital for other ailments. This, he said, was not good as people who visited the hospital were sick and had a compromised immune system. Masangane said mixing of the patients was risky as they were bound to get infected with the virus. “This means all our hospitals will become COVID-19 superspreaders.”  He noted that the elderly people who came to refill their diabetes and blood pressure medication were the most vulnerable. Masangane said it was a daunting task for the health workers as well, adding that going forward, the clinics too should be ready to receive COVID-19 cases as well. “As SWADNU, we sympathise with the members of the public who will not be receiving the services that they require,” said the organising secretary. 

However, he noted that what compounded the challenges was the fact that the COVID-19 outbreak emerged in March last year when the country was not prepared. He said even after the cases dropped before the second wave started, the country relaxed instead of upping its game in terms of preparedness. “With the current second wave, it also shows that the level of preparedness is at its lowest.”  

Masangane noted that facilities which were admitting COVID-19 patients were only two in the country and had recently started as well in the private facilities and the regional hospitals.

When reached for comment, the Director of Health Services, Dr. Vusi Magagula, said the hospital was still trying to identify an alternative place to accommodate the OPD wing. At the  moment, he said they were still searching and hoped the issue would be resolved soon. Magagula said patients could use the nearest clinics and hospitals and try to reduce visiting hospitals unless they really needed to see a doctor.

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