Khutsong power outage endangers elderly residents
Their helpers cannot get mediation for them at the clinic.
Although residents of Khutsong Extension 3 were inconvenienced by an electricity cut to their area this week, two elderly pensioners were particularly hard hit.
According to residents, Eskom switched off the electricity supply to Extension 3 due to a dispute with some community members on September 25. The issue was only sorted out two days later after ward councillors intervened.
The electricity cut caused particular hardship for two elderly residents. Elizabeth Segakweng of house no. 6778 could not get out of bed during this time as she is dependent on an oxygen machine, which does not work when there is no electricity, Segakweng (67) has cancer, asthma and high blood pressure and is so short of breath without her oxygen that she almost cannot get up from bed. Her medication also needs to stay cold, which is impossible when there is no electricity.
“I can’t do anything and my phone is also off, so I cannot call even call an ambulance for help,” she told the Herald.
Another resident, Toki Medupi of house no. 7044, was also hit hard as her crucial medication cannot last in the fridge when it is off. Medupi (64) breaths through a pipe in her throat and cannot speak or call for help. Luckily for the two pensioners dedicated ward committee members Disebo Tibane and Hilda Matlakane regularly checks in on them. A big problem is, however, that staff at the Khutsong Extension 3 clinic did not allow the ward committee members to pick up medication on behalf of the bed-ridden patients.
Segakweng explained that this is a huge problem, as it is almost impossible for her to get to the clinic herself. If her medication should get affected by the electricity problem or even just run out, she will not be able to get more. The same applies for Medupi.
The Herald took this problem to Thuso Montwedi of the Gauteng Department of Health, who promised to look into the matter.
He says Segakweng is receiving treatment at Khutsong Extension 3 and receives a weekly visit from the ward based primary health care outreach team consisting of community health workers (CHWs) for support. Transport is arranged by the facility to ferry her between facilities for scheduled check-ups every six months for medical review. She is also on the DABLAP MEDS program, which enables the patient to collect prepacked medication from preferred external/ internal service pick-up point.
Medupi is also receiving treatment at Khutsong Extension 3 and receives visits twice on a weekly basis from CHWs for support. Her spouse collects treatment from the clinic every three months on her behalf. Patients visits the clinic every 6 months for medical review.
She is allowed to nominate in writing their preferred person to collect on their behalf, if she are unable to collect by herself. This is to maintain her confidentiality and ensure that medication reaches the intended patient.
