ANC Need to Realise That Charity Starts at Home

Given the state of our public hospitals it was with great amusement and amazement that I read a report in the Star Newspaper the other day. South Africa is going to provide healthcare to the DRC. The DRC health minister, Mr Victor Makwenge was reported as saying that he found the level of health care satisfactory in South Africa.

South African minister of health, Manto Tshabalala- Msimang was reported as saying that whilst she is aware the medical field in South Africa is facing challenges, it was only fair to see what South Africa could offer as a country. She cited that during the liberation struggle certain countries had helped with the struggle and now it was pay back time.

In the same edition of the paper there is a article about the crime in our public hospitals, at JHB General a doctor was robbed of his wallet and cell phone at gun point. At Chris Hani Baragwanath a patient was shot and killed and at least two doctors were mugged. Similar incidences have been reported around the country. JHB General management has now decided to use the R40 million much needed for health care to turn JHB Gen into a fortress.

Having had the luxury of going to a state hospital I can talk from first hand experience. I went for a minor ailment, arrived at 06h30 and walked out after seeing the doctor for all of five minutes at 16h10! You cannot move in these hospitals for people lying around sniffling and coughing. The service is exceptionally slow and often times they do not have the medicine that has been prescribed by the doctors. Coupled with the report on crime how can we possibly afford to put more strain on an already crippled service? Is it not the ANC’s responsibility to look after its voters before taking on other burdens?