MEC Mashego checks on water challenges at St Rita’s Hospital
GLEN COWIE – Following an outcry over water shortages at the St Rita’s Hospital in Glen Cowie outside Jane Furse, Limpopo MEC for Health, Dieketseng Mashego, visited the facility on Friday, 16 August to get a brief from the hospital’s management about challenges of water and other related matters.
MEC Mashego further embarked on a walk-about of the hospital through which she got an opportunity to interact with patients to hear about their experience at the hands of healthcare workers at St Rita’s Hospital.
The problem shortage of water is persistent at most healthcare facilities in Sekhukhune district, making it difficult for healthcare worker to provide services.
Meanwhile, as the Limpopo Department of Health (LDoH) strives to address the challenges related to water supply in healthcare centres, a major setback was experienced at the HC Boshoff Health Centre outside Burgersfort after thieves stole a 600m steel water pipeline that plays a crucial role in connecting the facility to its primary water reservoir earlier last week.
The LDoH has since condemned the theft and lambasted that the act not only represents a significant financial loss to the division but also jeopardizes the health and well-being of the community the facility serves.
Neil Shikwambana, LDoH spokesperson, explained that the department is fixing the facility’s water infrastructure to ensure the long-term delivery of water since the health centre currently relies on water tankers for water.
“The stolen steel pipe is an integral part of fixing reliable delivery of clean water to the HC Boshoff Health Centre which provides vital healthcare services to the community. The theft will unnecessarily delay the process of ensuring that there is a sustainable water supply to the facility, which in turn poses serious risks to patient care and the clinic’s ability to function effectively,” said Shikwambana.
Furthermore, the department urges anyone with information about this crime to come forward and assist the authorities.
“We also call on the community to be vigilant in their own communities by working together with government to safeguard public property. We must all work together to protect our essential infrastructure and support the vital services that our healthcare facilities provide,” concluded Shikwambana.
