Esidimeni a ‘wake-up call’ – MEC

THE tragedy of Esidimeni – where 94 psychiatric patients died in Gauteng after being transferred to NGOs from state facilities – represented a “wake-up call” for mental health specialists in KwaZuluNatal.

This was Health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo’s assertion at a discussion titled “The Life Esidimeni Tragedy: DOH Response”, hosted by head of the department of psychiatry Professor Bonginkosi Chiliza at the University of KwaZuluNatal’s Nelson Mandela School of Medicine last night.

It was previously reported by The Mercury that the transfer of the 1 371 patients was “rapid” and “chaotic”, and the 27 “mysteriously and poorly selected” non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that they were transferred to had “invalid licences”.

According to Health Ombudsman Professor Malegapuru Makgoba’s report, some of these NGOs “rocked up in open bakkies” to fetch patients.

The report said the patients died silently, without anybody feeling their pain. The execution of the move showed total disregard for the rights of patients and their families.

“I don’t know what it says about us as leaders in health care, but it’s something that is going to take a bit of time to forget about,” said Dhlomo. “I hope they (the public) learn to forgive us in this matter.

“I do not know whether the people involved knew that the consequences were going to be this grave … I’m sharing this with the professionals in the province as a wake-up call.”

Mental health, he said, was not well taken care of globally.

Dhlomo pointed out that KwaZulu-Natal had its fair share of challenges.

“We’re not standing here and celebrating that we don’t have problems. I’m saying that with humility. There are lots of problems.”