Valdezia Clinic near Elim in Limpopo’s Vhembe district has been at the center of a community protest, leading to its closure as angry residents demand new buildings and more staff at the facility. Shumani Maboko, a local resident spearheading the protest, accuses the provincial health department of neglecting the community’s pleas for improved healthcare services.
“For years, community members have been advocating for a new, well-equipped clinic with adequate staff. The current state of the clinic is appalling, with non-functioning toilets, broken pipes, lack of water, old and broken furniture, and overall decay,” says Maboko. The lack of essential resources has resulted in patients like Tsakani Mawele leaving the clinic without being attended to, as the overworked staff struggle to cope with the demands.
In response to the protests, the Limpopo health department has condemned the actions that block access to vital healthcare services. Spokesperson Neil Shikwambana reassures the community that staff from Valdezia Clinic will be temporarily reassigned to nearby facilities to ensure uninterrupted service delivery. The department acknowledges the challenges faced by the current clinic housed in an old building and claims to have engaged with community representatives to address the issues.
However, Wanga Nenungwi, a labour organiser for HOSPERSA in the Vhembe district, reveals longstanding complaints about staff shortages and dilapidated infrastructure at Valdezia Clinic. “The shortage of nurses leads to poor service delivery and exhaustion among employees. With only two nurses on duty for both shifts, the workload is overwhelming,” says Nenungwi. Other unions such as NUPSAW, DENOSA, and NEHAWU echo similar concerns about the state of government health facilities in the province.
Despite the department’s claims of annual budget allocations for basic maintenance, the ongoing issues at Valdezia Clinic highlight a systemic problem that extends beyond just one facility. With the community’s demands for better healthcare services intensifying, it is essential for all stakeholders to work together constructively to find sustainable solutions. The neglect of healthcare infrastructure and staff shortages cannot be overlooked, as they directly impact the quality of care provided to patients in need.
