TZANEEN: No medication at clinic
Shortage of medication in some clinics and hospitals in parts of the Limpopo province seem to be a trend.
Recently a Nkowankowa resident was disappointed by her visit to the Nkowankowa Health Centre, after she took her son who has been having a fever for almost a week, only to be told that there is no medication not even panados.
“I was told that there is nothing they can do, because there is no medication including panados or even the malaria tester, ” explained the disgruntled mother.
She went to the nearby pharmacy where she bought panados for her son and unfortunately malaria testers were also finished there.
She only received help the next day at Letaba Hospital where her son was assisted by helpful nurses.
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The LETABA HERALD has received a number of complaints about a shortage of medication including child vaccinations and contraceptives, many people are left with no option but to buy these products themselves at the pharmacy and unfortunately for those who cannot afford to buy they keep on returning to the clinic with the hopes of the medication being available.
In other reports the Department of Health in Limpopo said that the delay has been caused by the new distribution system which was implemented in June at the pharmaceutical depot in Seshego.
After the delay went on for months, many people including MEC of Health in Limpopo, Dr Phophi Ramathuba, had called for the old distribution system to be reinstalled, however the Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsolaedi insisted that the new system must continue.
The lack of medication in the clinic may still be a result of the distribution system, at the time of going to press the HERALD was still awaiting response from the Spokesperson of Department of Health in Limpopo, Neil Shikwambana on the specific matter.
