Residents demand better healthcare services. Image credit: GroundUp.
(The Post News)- The NU2 Clinic in Motherwell, Gqeberha, came to a complete standstill on Monday after frustrated residents closed the facility in protest. The demonstration follows months of growing anger over what community members describe as misconduct by some staff and poor service delivery.
At the center of the protest is a petition signed by 200 people, calling on the Eastern Cape Department of Health to urgently address their grievances. The petition demands shorter waiting times, more medical staff and supplies, proper attention and care for patients, and a reliable and efficient health service.
NU2 Residents Voice Frustration
Community leader Mpumelelo Ndlumbini was among those leading the protest. He painted a troubling picture of what ordinary people go through just to get medical attention at the clinic. He said that patients stand in queues from as early as 3 a.m. only to get turned away without receiving medical treatment. He expressed that not receiving medical attention as a parent or child is “painful.”
Furthermore, Ndlumbini accused staff at the NU2 facility of failing to work efficiently and compassionately. According to Ndlumbini, four nurses only attend to 20 patients a day. The nurses never bother to check who needs urgent medical assistance. Ndlumbini complained that the nurses “arrive late, start work around 10 am, and then knock off early,” adding that these are actions of misconduct and a sign of disrespect toward patients.
Safety Concerns for Patients
Bulelani Gangca, a voluntary night patroller who often helps escort residents to the NU2 clinic, said the situation has also placed a strain on community safety efforts. He explained that their responsibility as night patrollers is to ensure that the community is safe at night.
However, as patients go to the clinic to queue at midnight, they are forced to leave their designated posts and escort the patients. Thus, they become “less visible in the community,” prompting criminals to commit crime. Gangca said residents feel unsafe leaving their homes in the early hours, but desperation for medical attention leaves them with no choice.
Health Department’s Response
The Eastern Cape Department of Health has acknowledged some of the challenges raised by residents. Spokesperson Siyanda Manana admitted that the NU2 clinic was facing staff shortages but denied claims of shortages in essential medicine.
He explained that the department has been working on ways to reduce waiting times, especially for patients collecting chronic medication. He said they have established the Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) program, which allows patients to get their medicine from different pickup points. These include “pharmacies and community centers, instead of having to queue at the clinic.”
Health Dept Vows to Resolve the Matter
On Monday, Nelson Mandela Health District human resources director, Mzoli Njalo, visited the NU2 Clinic in person to receive the petition from the protesting residents. Addressing the crowd gathered outside, he assured them that their concerns would not be ignored. “I want to thank you for raising your issues in a peaceful manner and for handing us this petition. We understand your frustrations, and we are here to listen,” said Njalo.
He admitted that the health department is struggling with limited resources but promised that efforts would be made to improve the situation at the NU2 Clinic. “It is important to us that the people of Motherwell and surrounding areas receive the health care they deserve. We will look at staffing issues and at the systems being used in the clinic, and we will respond properly in due time,” he said.
Njalo also addressed the allegations of misconduct made against some nurses at the NU2 facility. He vowed that the issues will be dealt with, saying that the department will launch a probe into the allegations. According to him, if they find that the nurses are indeed guilty of the allegations, necessary steps will be taken.
For residents of NU2 in Motherwell, the closure of the clinic is a sign of just how desperate the community has become. Clinics are often the first point of contact for primary healthcare in townships and rural areas, yet many are plagued by staff shortages, long queues, and complaints of poor service.
The protest has highlighted the daily struggles faced by patients, from waking up in the middle of the night to queue to going home untreated despite their efforts. It has also raised questions about accountability, with community members calling for investigations into misconduct and for nurses to show greater compassion.
For now, residents are waiting to see whether the health department will live up to its promise of responding within 14 days. But many say they will not hesitate to return to protest action if their demands are not taken seriously.
As Ndlumbini put it, “We are not fighting because we want to. We are fighting because we are tired of suffering. A clinic is supposed to be a place of healing, not a place where you are turned away. We want this department to show us that they care. Until then, we will not stop raising our voices.”
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