Malukazi residents cry out for functioning health clinic
THE residents of Malukazi, south of Durban, say their pleas for an operational health clinic have fallen on deaf years.
The clinic, in Road 5, was allegedly vandalised by whoonga (drug) addicts last year.
It has no doors or windows, parts of the ceiling are missing, the electricity box, plugs and switch boxes were ripped out as were the water pipes, and metal sinks.
A resident has claimed the premises are now being used by those engaging in illicit activities.
Tina Naidoo, 21, said they were now forced to wait for the mobile clinic to visit the area, two to three times a week, or they would have to travel to uMlazi (about 8km away) to access a similar health-care facility.
“We queue early in the morning, but the mobile clinic arrives at around 9am or 10am and leaves by 2pm. There have been occasions when we have had to return two days later for treatment because they (the staff) did not want to remain in the area after 2pm or they did not have enough medication,” she said.
She said the staff had told them that if they were unhappy with the service they should go to a hospital.
Jasmine Govender, 28, added that consultations, which should be private, sometimes took place at a table and chair outside the mobile van.
“When it does take place inside, there is still no privacy. If you are getting an HIV test done, everyone will hear your results, which is embarrassing.”
She said there was also no running water and toilet facilities.
“If you need to do a urine test, you have to walk down the road to a public toilet and return with a cup in your hand.”
The area councillor, Bhekisisa Mjadu, said he had met city officials about repairing the clinic.
“They have agreed to fix the clinic, but they want assurance that it (vandalism) is not going to happen again, as they cannot keep repairing the place. They say the community needs to step in.”
He said the city said it had no budget for security.
eThekwini Municipality spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said the clinic had been broken into three times and had been
“The clinic will be included in the 2019/20 financial year budget. We are engaging the ward councillor to look for better and safer premises, but within the Malukazi area.”
Mayisela said the mobile clinic operated on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 8.30am and 3.30pm.