Following the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) oversight inspection yesterday to assess the extent of the damage at the Christiana Clinic following the fire on Tuesday evening, we have written to Health MEC Somododa Sambatha, to urgently dispatch mobile clinics fully stocked with medicine and primary healthcare equipment to deliver medical care to residents. See letter here.
The loss of two healthcare facilities to fire will have a dire impact on healthcare in Christiana. Patients in need of treatment for chronic medical conditions will need to travel long distances to receive treatment.
All patient files, equipment and medicine – including repeat chronic prescriptions – were destroyed in the fire, leaving patients under treatment unable to collect their prescriptions, which poses a life-threatening danger for patients receiving treatment for diabetes, HIV, tuberculosis, hypertension, cholesterol and other cardio-vascular diseases.
The DA also conducted an oversight inspection at the Cristiana District Hospital to assess progress on the renovations to refurbish the medical section following a fire in September last year which left it destroyed. Unfortunately, we were met with a completely dilapidated medical wing. It is evident that no clearing of rubble or renovations have been initiated since the fire last year. See photos here and here.
It is concerning that no work has been done at the hospital despite Health MEC Sambatha’s announcement that FNB committed R1,3 million towards the refurbishment of the medical wing earlier this year.
While temporary structures have been erected, these are mostly used for offices.
The DA will not abandon the community of Christiana that depends on these two health facilities for their medical care. Yesterday we requested the Portfolio Committee on Health to conduct an emergency oversight to the facility and that the Department account for the lack of work being done at the Christiana Hospital despite the donations received.
Issued by Gavin Edwards MPL - DA North West Provincial Spokesperson on Health