Clinic night services on hold after attack

THURSDAY MARCH 23 2017 THE KZN provincial health department has suspended the night services at the Ntuzuma Clinic after staff were attacked over the weekend.

In the early hours of Saturday, two gunmen accessed the premises from the back entrance and accosted the guard inside the facility. “The two guards at the gate were unaware of what was happening inside,” said the department.

Health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo visited the facility, where he announced the suspension of the night services.

He heard the assailants took cellphones and money from the nurses, one of whom they slapped and kicked. They fled by climbing over the gate.

“After being appointed to head the health services in the province, I was to ensure cleanliness and guarantee the safety of staff, patients and property,” said Dhlomo.

“We cannot sacrifice the lives of our healthcare professionals by forcing them to work at night, to become targets of the (criminals).

“I am happy that the local councillor has committed to holding public meetings and dialogues with the residents to ensure the security of healthcare professionals,” he added.

Dhlomo said many people would be adversely affected by the suspension of services, especially those with knife and gunshot wounds, who would now have to travel to KwaMashu clinics.

“In the meantime, we will employ more security personnel, upgrade the fencing and put up steel doors at the entrances. We will review this decision pending community engagement, but for now, the clinic is open only during the day,” he said.

Concessions would be made for women in labour, who would be taken by ambulance to the KwaMashu Community Health Centre.

In 2014, the department was forced to allow workers to work regular hours at a clinic in Ezakheni A-section, near Ladysmith. This decision arose after many attacks on staff after hours.

The clinic is situated about 100m from a tavern. Gun-toting and knife-wielding thugs had terrorised the staff since the opening of the facility in the late 1990s.

Ntuzuma ward councillor Happy Mkhize said this was the second attack on clinic staff, the first of which was “many years ago”.