POLOKWANE – Women who want to find out whether they are pregnant or not by having a pregnancy test done at the Rethabile Clinic, claim they have to bring their own pregnancy tests with them.
A woman, who recently suspected she might be pregnant, said she didn’t have money and was desperate to find out whether she was pregnant or not.
“A friend of mine said I should go to Rethabile Clinic and they would be able to help me. I went to the clinic, and the nurse told me that they did not have pregnancy tests. She said I should go and buy one and come back – then they would help me. I was so shocked I just looked at the nurse and left.”
According to the woman, she had to borrow money to buy a pregnancy test, but she did not go back to the clinic for help.
“The instructions on the pregnancy test are easy to follow. I just tested myself at home. I went to the clinic in the first place because I didn’t have money to buy my own test, not for a nurse to hold my hand and help me read the results of the test.
“The government promises healthcare for all, but the clinic cannot help a desperate woman.”
A nurse, who spoke to Review on condition of anonymity, said the clinic ran out of stock.
“In the past we did supply women with pregnancy tests, but it’s been almost a year since the clinic has had pregnancy tests in stock.
“We help patients, but they must bring their own tests.
“There are times that we really feel sorry for some women, because you can see that they really don’t have money for a test and that they are desperate to know whether they are pregnant or not, but there is nothing we can do,” the nurse said.
Health spokesperson, Adéle van der Linde said the clinic did have some problems with stock for the past few months due to some doubt about the quality of the stock they received from the supplier. “However, it has definitely not been without stock for almost a year.”
Van der Linde said all stock shortages at clinics can be reported by dialling the MEC’s hotline at 0800 91 91 91 during office hours.
