The abduction and rape of two night-shift nurses at a Limpopo clinic has put the spotlight on the Health Department’s efforts to render 24-hour clinic services across the province.
About 200 of the over 500 clinics operate around the clock in the province.
Two nurses from the Ga-Chuene clinic outside Lebowakgomo were raped while on duty two weeks ago.
Vyeboom clinic outside Vuwani was also attacked eight years ago, and the provision of 24-hour services was stopped as a result.
Vyeboom resident, Albert Mulaudzi believes that deploying police to clinics that offer over-night services would make them safer.
Mulaudzi says, “They can bring maybe a police man, one of the police man to come and assist the security so that even the nurses they will feel that they are more protected and that government is doing something for them so that they bring good healthcare to the people.”
National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (NUPSAW) Provincial Secretary, Ntata Sekgota says security guards must be armed and surveillance cameras installed at clinics to strengthen security.
Sekgota says, “We need to ensure that we have security who are having guns, not just security who are just there in numbers, but are equal to the task. We want cameras to be installed in all facilities which are doing 24-hours. They must as well go to the university and go and make an investigation through that institution to say what type of security measures should be instituted so that we can have a safe environment so that we can work 24-hours.”
Related video | Man accused of raping Limpopo nurses at 24-hour clinic to appear in court:
Pimani Baloyi
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