The Hillbrow Community Health Centre flooded on 21 November following a huge burst pipe.
DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health Jack Bloom said that he visited the clinic on 21 November and found frustrated staff and patients at the clinic, many of whom were told to come back in two days’ time.
Water was being swept off the floor and many patient files were damaged while the ceilings have fallen apart. The basement of the pharmacy was flooded, damaging medical supplies and rendering many medicines unusable.
Bloom said, “I was told that there have been long-running plumbing issues and many staff members worry about their safety in the building.”
He concluded, “This is yet another example of poor maintenance in our health facilities by a failing ANC provincial government. Meanwhile, the 900 patients who attend this clinic every day are adversely affected.”
Chief director of the Johannesburg Health District Mogeru Morewane confirmed that the pipe burst occurred in the early hours of the morning and was repaired the same day by the Department of Infrastructure Development.
She added, “No beds were lost. The pharmacy department within the clinic is still determining the cost on damaged stock.”
Morewane said, “The floods did not affect the entire clinic. However, health services were rendered at the clinic on the very same day. ”
Details: Hillbrow Community Health Centre 011 694 3700.
