The Eastern Cape Health Department has rejected claims that it lied about the future of the historic St Lucy’s hospital in the Tsolo district of Transkei.
The Congress of the People (COPE) in the province said this week that health MEC Phumulo Masualle and his officials “continue to lie and mislead the community” about their commitment to keeping the hospital open. A new hospital, the R218 million Dr Malizo Mpehle hospital opened its doors last week in Tsolo town, and will be officially handed over to the community on Thursday.
Cope said in a statement that the MEC met community leaders last week and assured them that the new hospital would not lead to the closure of the 100 years old St Lucy’s, 20 kilometres from the town. “A few minutes after they left, government vehicles arrived to dismantle equipment including the machinery that was donated to the hospital by the Japanese government,” Cope said.
“The fact that the ANC led government ruins a rural hospital serving 42 villages far away from the town is indicative of a party that only pays lip service to rural development.”
However, health department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said no St Lucy’s equipment was removed. The government had spent R17 million on state of the art equipment for the new hospital and some of it had been stored at St Lucy’s while Malizo Mpehle was being built, he said.
It was this equipment that had been moved from the old hospital. He said St Lucy’s would continue operating. It would have 40 in-patient beds, allowing for extended stays by patients with conditions such as hypertension, HIV and AIDS and tuberculosis. It would also provide comprehensive primary healthcare 24 hours a day. St Lucy’s, which was dilapidated, would also undergo a facelift. Kupelo said the new hospital was centrally located to serve the entire community.
Issued by: Department of Health, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
18 November 2009
Source: Department of Health, Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecdoh.gov.za/)
