Kanye residents call for a govt hospital

MARANYANE NGWANAAMOTHO
Staff Writer | Thursday October 4, 2012 00:00

 

The residents were speaking in a meeting with the parliamentary Health and HIV committee, led by Slumber Tsogwane, which had visited the village to gather ideas on the quality of services offered at the hospital.

Residents said that a government hospital would be easily managed compared to the mission hospital, which reports to the church. They complain that the hospital has many private doctors, which makes it difficult for the public - who cannot afford a private practitioner - a chance to see a doctor.  One man, named only as Oabeng, complained that the hospital has no capacity to accommodate parents of children admitted to the institution.

'Parents do not have anywhere to sleep if their children are admitted here. You will find that some of them sleep on the floor or on the chairs for the whole night,' he said. Another man, who identified himself as Mpho, pleaded with the team to ask the Minister of Health to visit Kanye. He stated that the minister had never visited them since he assumed office though they always hear about his visits to other areas across the country.

He questioned the credibility of doctors at the hospital, saying that his family recently lost a relative allegedly due to mis-prescription of drugs. The relative suffered a damaged kidney and brain damage.  'These doctors should be investigated especially since most of them are foreigners. People are dying here,' he said.

He suggested that it would be better if the hospital was handed over to government.  Lehela Sebonego, another resident, wanted to know if there is any chance of doctors who come into the country to offer specialist services being posted to Kanye as well. 'Specialists always come into the country but whenever they do they only go to the north of the country; when are they coming this side?' she asked.

Other residents pleaded that the number of doctors be increased to help change the status quo. They said the population of Kanye and surrounding villages has increased over the years and the hospital can no longer cope.

The committee will submit a report to Parliament and the Ministry of Health and advise on possible ways to help people in the area.