Clinic staff disregard well-being of pregnant patients
Pregnant women who rely on Rethabile Clinic for healthcare services say the public toilets in the maternity ward at the clinic are in a 'filthy state' which poses a serious health risk.
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/68/2016/05/IMG_802_596036194_26241.jpg)
POLOKWANE – “There are bloodstains all over the toilet, the utensils are laying around not cleaned, and the dustbin is filthy full of bloody sanitary towels,” a woman who is five months pregnant, said.
Another woman who is seven months pregnant said on Tuesday when she visited the clinic she also found the toilet in a horrific state and reported it to the nurse in charge who promised to bring someone to clean the toilet, but no one came to clean the facility.
“When I realised the nurse who promised to bring a cleaner failed to deliver on his promise, I complained to the woman who wrote our names in the register and she told she can’t find the cleaner.
“Eventually we found a cleaner that was sitting in the linen room and when we asked her to clean the toilets, she said it was not her department and left the room.
“I went to the nurses’ office and there I spoke to the acting manager to whom I raised my complaint and she advised me that the person that must clean the area is not on duty and that she must get someone else to clean,” the woman explained.
She added that when she told the acting manager about the cleaner that was sitting in the linen room, the acting manager said the cleaners won’t listen to anyone but her and that she will instruct them to clean the area.
“Hours went by after I spoke to the acting manager and still no one came to clean the toilet. I inspected the nurses’ toilet facilities and also the clinic office toilets and they are all very clean.
“We are several pregnant women who are easily exposed to infections and germs and the clinic does not show an interest in our well-being.
“When I left the clinic late Tuesday afternoon, the toilets were still not cleaned,” the woman said.
Department of Health Spokesperson, Derick Kganyago has not yet supplied comment on this matter.