With only a few weeks left before the national elections, members of Tac want to be clear on what the political parties have in store for them concerning health issues.
Last Wednesday representatives from different political parties read their promises to the members of the Tac and residents who gathered at the Tsakane Clinic, each party using the platform to convince them to vote for their party.
According to chairman of Kwatsaduza Tac, Sibongile Khumalo, the aim of listening to the politicians’ promises is to ensure that Tac activists make informed decisions and vote for the party that puts South Africans’ health first.
She added that because of many challenges faced by health practitioners and patients, as the Tac they want to choose the party that will work towards improving the state of all health facilities while also ensuring that no patient goes home without getting his treatment.
A platform was then opened for the community and the Tac members to ask questions of the politicians.
“Some of us have been voluntary caregivers with more than five years’ experience and we feel that the government does not care about us as we do not get even a little stipend at the end of the month,” sadly said Swazi Thabethe.
Answering to the caregivers’ frustration, MMC for health Makhosazana Maluleke said the problem of caregivers not being paid is due to the companies that get a tender to do the job and employ people who they underpay or sometimes run away without paying them.
Oscar Mthembu from the EFF said his party respects the voluntary work done by the caregivers and it is for that reason that the EFF does not call them the health caregivers but the foot care workers.
He said to improve health, especially at the public-owned hospitals and clinics, the EFF will send 500 deserving learners to study medicine overseas and come back to work for the people of this country.
“The EFF will make sure that the MMCs, ministers and the MECs employed in the health sector have a medical background,” said Mthembu.
NFP representative, Mzonjani Sithole said if his party rules this country, they will ensure that no TB patient takes treatment on an empty stomach because of poverty.
“For the six months that the patient is on TB treatment, we will provide a government grant for him until he finishes his treatment,” Sithole promised.
Wasp representative, Moses Mhlambi said the government led by his party will involve the public in all decisions concerning health problems and will also deploy a minister to specialise in dealing with each of the chronic diseases.
