Unions to march for better health services

NEHAWU, Denosa and Cosatu will stage a march to the Northern Cape Department of Health’s offices on Friday to highlight the poor state of health services in the Province.

Nehawu provincial secretary Moleme Moleme said that around 1,000 members from the five districts of the Province would join in on the mass action.

He called for the acting head of department (HOD), Mxolisi Mlatha, to step down.

“The Department of Health is paying the salaries of two HODs. The current HOD, Dr Dion Theys, is still receiving the salary of an HOD although he was deployed to medical services.”

Theys is appealing a R150,000 fine after he was convicted of contravening the Public Finance Management Act when leases were concluded for student nurses at the JP Hugo Trading premises between 2010 and 2012.

Moleme stated that they wanted a clinician with a medical background to serve as the HOD.

“Critical vacant posts should be filled instead, such as the chief director of corporate services, district health directors and human resource managers, in order to stabilise the department.”

He added that they were aggrieved about the deteriorating state of infrastructure and health services at health facilities.

“There is a dire shortage of staff, resources, medicines and equipment, while supply chain management processes are being flouted.”

Moleme added that they would call on the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to probe “unprecedented levels of corruption” relating to the procurement of photocopy machines and an optical machine that was purchased but was never delivered.

“The public health system has to be fixed before the National Health Insurance (NHI) is introduced. Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital is falling apart and there is no maintenance. The water supply is back but laundry is done off-site. The security system is not adequately protecting staff and patients and should be in-sourced.”

He believed that workers were being exploited.

“Covid-19 brigade workers were working as health facility assistants and community health care workers for mere stipends of R3,500. They must be permanently absorbed as they are retiring without pensions.”

Moleme indicated that health facility assistants who were providing cleaning and catering services were working 24-hour shifts at the Kakamas community health clinic without overtime pay or benefits.

Cosatu provincial secretary Orapeleng Moraladi meanwhile urged for the immediate removal of the Sol Plaatje municipal manager.

“Sol Plaatje Municipality had to return over R54 million meant for upgrading bulk water infrastructure as it never utilised the grant allocated to them by the National Treasury. The reason provided that ‘they could not find a service provider’ is a lame excuse to justify incompetence,” said Moraladi.

He added that the infrastructure in the Province was dilapidated.

“Communities have to bear the brunt of water cuts and a poor electricity supply that is unreliable and costly.”

Moraladi added that they would embark on mass picketing, protest marches and town-based engagements to solicit ways and means to expedite effective and efficient service delivery.

“Provincial government must fast track the filling of vacant, funded posts and deal with corruption and incompetence. The poor state of hospitals and other public service points as well as the shortage of personnel in the departments of Health and Education is a matter of concern.”

Northern Cape Department of Health spokesperson Lebogang Majaha said the MEC would accept the memorandum.

Northern Cape Department of Health spokesperson Lulu Mxekezo said the Public Finance Management Act permitted the appointment of an acting accounting officer.

“The challenges of an accounting officer are not determined by being in an acting capacity. So it is not a factor that influences the current challenges of the department,” said Mxekezo.

She added that the department was in the process of filling critical and vacant posts, particularly for clinical staff.

“We have also started the process of regularising irregular contracts in the department. There is ongoing work being done in reducing historical irregular expenditure.

“Ultimately the critical litmus test is improving access to health and the quality of health care in all our facilities, which includes multifaceted interventions.”

Mxekezo stated that the MEC for Health was engaging with different components in the department to address their needs and concerns.

“The entire leadership is working in concert to motivate and provide leadership in the department.”