Mobile clinic workers’ no-show angers Westenburg residents

POLOKWANE – It is not the inability of healthcare workers to show up which has angered Westenburg mobile clinic patients, but the Health Department’s lack of communication over the last four weeks as to why this is the case.

Some chronic medication patients, most of whom include the elderly and pregnant women in the area, ran out of medication and had to return home empty-handed on several occasions, representative Terry Whitehead told Polokwane Observer.

As a result, they have been compelled to travel to Buite Clinic and Rethabile Clinic for medical attention, some with the use of public transport and others by walking, she mentioned.

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While their presence extended the already exercabated queues for patients who receive care at these facilities, Departmental spokesperson Neil Shikwambana admitted they did not communicate timeously.

“We apologise profusely,” he said, and attributed the situation to repairs that are being done on the mobile unit. Due to the unavailability of the vehicle, the nurses at the mobile were re-allocated to the measles vaccination wrap-up programme,” he added.

He has not indicated when the vehicle and subsequently, the mobile clinic services, would resume operations.

Years after the Polokwane Municipality pledged to provide land for a permanent clinic to be built in the area, requests have come to nothing due to national policy regulation.

Acting provincial spokesperson at the time, Derrick Kganyago said the location of Buite Clinic being within a 10km radius of Westenburg, is the reason another permanent healthcare structure cannot be built in the area.

The Buite Clinic as an alternative has still not been welcomed by Westenburg residents, who say the facility is too small to serve the population it serves, which includes nearby townships such as extensions 40, 44, 71, 75 among others.