Population spike to blame for increased patient numbers at clinic

The population explosion in Alexandra is partly to blame for the huge spike in patients being admitted to the Alexandra Health Centre (AHC), popularly known as Alex Clinic.

Patient numbers shot up from 190 000 in 2013 to 236 000 in 2014, and then to 305 000 last year.

The huge increase in patients attending the clinic has been attributed to a number of factors. One of the factors, as outlined by the Democratic Alliance’s Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health, Jack Bloom, is the overpopulation of this iconic township which continues to attract huge numbers of people from rural areas seeking greener pastures and job opportunities in the City of Gold.

Bloom said the shocking figures were revealed by Gauteng Health MEC, Qedani Mahlangu, in a written reply to questions that Bloom had raised in the Gauteng Legislature.

The clinic used to be independently run, but was taken over by the Gauteng Health Department in July last year and has 167 employees with a budget this year of R74.7 million.

Bloom said the increase in patients also reflects a worrying rise in diseases that highlights the need for more preventative health measures. The rodent infestation and the deteriorating state of cleanliness and service delivery in the area, with rubbish lying uncollected over many days, is suspected to be one of the major causes of disease.

“I hope that the takeover by the department enhances the proud history of this clinic and its many community health projects,” Bloom said.

Gauteng Department of Health spokesperson, Steve Mabona, said patient numbers at the clinic can be attributed to an escalation of people migrating to Gauteng. “Unfortunately that puts us in a precarious position. Two of our clinics in Alex are under refurbishment, which will assist to alleviate pressure from Alex Clinic,” Mabona said.

He added that the rodents and the filth do not have an impact on the disease profile in the area, as people suffer from hypertension, diabetes, and HIV/Aids related ailments, which has nothing to do with an unhygienic environment.

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