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The IFP has slammed the Department of Health in the Eastern Cape for its
failure to provide proper healthcare infrastructure at the Siphethu Hospital
in Silindini, a situation that has endured for the last six years. IFP
Spokesperson on Health, Ms Hilda Msweli MP, expressed her outrage.

"For six years, doctors and nurses have waited for the Department to provide
proper structures for Siphethu Hospital patients, but to no avail. The staff
are barely protected from the elements as they work. The risk to patients of
bacterial and other infections increase exponentially in such unsanitary
conditions," said Msweli. "How is it possible that the Department could be
completely unaware of this situation? This is utterly unacceptable."

The IFP calls on the National Department of Health and the Provincial
Department of Health in the Eastern Cape to urgently intervene in solving
this problem. Since the nearest hospital available to the residents is 100km
away from Mthatha, the community urgently requires this hospital to function
so that they have access to basic health services in a sanitary and secure
environment.