Stretford CHC based in Extension 2 near Eyethu Mall in Orange Farm, South of Johannesburg is closed because other staff members tested positive for COVID-19. This facility like many others lacks personal protective equipment.
The community is affected by the situation since it is the only one who does the major treatment of patient, it has services like dentistry, labour and X-rays. The facility has a dietician on offer. It also offers emergency services. Now patients are suffering because they to travel to other facilities for assistance and they do not have money for transport.
The most frustrating thing is that there is no notice. No one tells patients anything. Patients have to stand outside for a long time from 5 o’clock in the morning until around 10 o’clock. Then they are told by security to go back home, that they should seek for alternatives on their own. Some patients feel that at least they should organize transport to other clinics and refer them, not just leave them.
Even pregnant women are in danger of delivering their babies on the way to Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital or Bhekisizwe Mlangeni Hospital. Emily Modisane takes her chronic medication from this facility. She has been collecting her medication here monthly from 2013. But now there is no service for her. Modisane said that the Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize, had reported that people who are taking chronic medication are at high risk of getting COVID-19.
“I am sure they want us to die of the virus, not our illnesses. They should inform us that the clinic will be closed and for how long so that we should not waste time and money coming here” said Emily Modisane
This article was submitted on 20 August 2020. You may republish this article, so long as you credit the authors and Karibu! Online (www.Karibu.org.za), and do not change the text. Please include a link back to the original article.
