Mashego condemns assault of nurses
When they were told to wait outside, the group got angry and hit a male nurse with a brick
MBOMBELA -A number of nurses under the department of health sustained injuries after being assaulted by members of the public. The incidents took place over the weekend at Driefontein Community Health Center near Piet Retief and Kanyamazane Clinic.
A nurse at Kanyamazane Clinic was assaulted by members of the public on Saturday. It is alleged that a group of five men entered the clinic accompanying a friend who was assaulted. It is alleged that the culprits tried to force their way into the room where the patients was being attended to by nurses. The nurses sustained head injuries. A case of assault has been open with the Kanyamazane police.
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In another incident, a professional nurses at the Driefontein CHC near Piet Retief was assaulted by a male patient whilst being sutured. The incident occurred at 03:00 on Sunday.The nurse sustained a swollen eye after the assault. The nurse was taken to Piet Retief hospital for treatment. The nurse was advised to open a case of assault with the SAPS.The patient has since been arrested.
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The department has now resolved to engage all relevant stakeholders such as traditional leaders,police,councillors and Clinic Committees so that the community can be engaged on this matter.
MEC for Health, Gillion Mashego says such behaviour in not acceptable.
“It is so disappointing that there are people who assault nurses, especially women.These people leave their families to attend to patients at night because they care about the well-being of the people,but then they get assaulted.I have instructed the nurses to open cases of assault with the police because these are criminal cases.
“The worse thing is that we always preach No violence against women and children, but still such incidents happen. I will also engage the department of Community Safety and Security so that we put our heads together to see how we can beef up security at the health facilities, especially at night were these incidents are rife,” he said.
Mashego has also alluded that the community will suffer the most if health services are interrupted because nurses fear for their lives.
“We want to appeal to our people to never assault our health professionals,” he ended.
