EPWP workers expressed shock after finding unused medical equipment dumped next to the road in Ward 8 near John Daka in Galeshewe.
EPWP workers expressed shock after finding unused medical equipment dumped next to the road in Ward 8 near John Daka in Galeshewe on Wednesday.
The workers reportedly spotted the opened boxes containing drips and catheter drainage bags at the same spot where they saw a white bakkie parked earlier in the day.
They said the boxes were later collected by a woman, who did not identify herself nor where she was from, without any explanation.
According to the workers, they called the police and even went to the Sol Plaatje Housing Support Centre to ask for the boxes to be collected by the relevant department.
One of the workers said she saw the boxes at a spot that they had already cleaned earlier in the day.
The worker said they saw a bakkie parked at the spot earlier in the day but did not suspect anything.
“I wanted to burn the boxes, but when I kicked it a drip fell out. I inspected all the boxes and saw more empty drips and catheter bags inside.
“A man arrived and told us that he had called someone else to come because he did not have gloves or the proper equipment to remove the items.
“Then a woman arrived in a Polo and took the boxes without wearing any gloves.”
Northern Cape Department of Health spokesperson Lulu Mxekezo said the department was not aware of the incident.
“It is difficult to determine the source of the medical equipment, as well as the person who allegedly dumped it, as we have not seen the medical equipment, labelled or not.
“The department is not the only entity rendering health services as there are also private facilities in the Province,” Mxekezo said.
