Today, the rural community of Muden in Umvoti Municipality had the first taste of improvements in the delivery of healthcare as promised by the National Health Insurance. Mired by deep poverty; the costs of having a sick family member meant loss of hard earned income which is mostly secured from the government social grants.
Sharing her joy to the news of a new ‘mini hospital’ and 28 new ambulances Ms Qhamukephi Sosibo (53) could not hold back her tears of joy. “We are not just happy that the MEC is here to announce the construction of a mini hospital,” she explained in isiZulu, “we are overjoyed. It is a saving! When a family member gets sick we have to pay no less than R600 for transport to the nearest hospital.”
The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo was in the rural Muden to deliver 28 ambulances and announce the construction of a R17,2 million Community healthcare Centre. The construction of the new healthcare center is also expected to create more than 500 job opportunities.
“Our patients, who carry such an unequal burden of disease, desperately need the unique, high-quality medical services that the Community Healthcare Centre (CHC) offers. The CHC requires support if it is to continue to deliver high quality, comprehensive medical services to our patients hence the delivery of ambulances,” said MEC Dhlomo address hundreds of jubilant community members.
The area falls in the Umzinyathi District which was chosen for the pilot of the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme. Speaking to the crowds who were gathered at the construction site MEC Dhlomo had stern words for health care professionals. “We are better off with fewer healthcare professionals than many dishonest ones. Today must mark a huge difference in the lives, and the healthcare needs, of the people of this area.”
As the nation looks to government, said MEC Dhlomo, for a model for healthcare for all, “decision makers must keep in mind that the most vulnerable people often cannot advocate for themselves.” He warned against lazy and uncaring health care professions that the department would not tolerate them. He said ambulances play a major role in decisions that doctors make in the management of patients thus Emergency Medical personnel should ensure that they are responsive.
Muden is a rural area situated almost 25km north-west of Greytown in KwaZulu-Natal. Greytown is the main town for Muden, where people go for different needs, including accessing health services. The area shares its history with the Bambata (one of the Zulu heroes who withstood the British regime) rebellions between the Zondi tribe and the British troops.
According to the Umvoti Municipality only 18% of the economically active people are employed. More than 50% of the population is unemployed, whilst 24% of the population earns between R1 and R18 000 per annum.
MEC Dhlomo was very firm in his address to the healthcare workers who gathered there amongst which were 28 students who will soon depart for Cuba to study medicine on a full government support.
He concluded his address by saying that for poor people, quality healthcare means that the smallest premature baby, weighing less than a kilogram at birth and requiring life support to survive, will receive cutting-edge care in the Obstetric Ambulances we have left here and will one day come back to visit you who cared for him or her as a mischievous, energetic 2-year-old.
He said; “Quality healthcare means that a teenager suffering from a severe asthma attack will be treated aggressively in their nearby Community Healthcare Centre’s emergency room and will be cared for by caring and empathic staff, and will walk out of the clinic able to breathe again.”
