POLITICS

Strikers close Hillbrow Aids clinic - Jack Bloom

DA MPL says hundreds of patients being denied their ARV medication

HILLBROW AIDS CLINIC DISRUPTED BY STRIKE

I was horrified to discover this morning that the HIV/Aids clinic at the Hillbrow Community Health Centre has been severely disrupted due to intimidation by striking workers.

This is one of the busiest Aids clinics in the country, and normally sees between 60 and 80 patients a day.

I saw about 100 patients waiting outside the closed doors of this clinic.

A doctor was physically forced to stop treating patients there at about 10 am on Thursday last week, and the clinic was then closed for the rest of that day and also on Friday.

Management is trying to make alternative arrangements as it is critical that anti-retroviral treatment is not interrupted in any way, otherwise life-threatening resistance can build up.

Doctors at the rest of the clinic stood around aimlessly as about 200 other patients with various ailments arrived but could not be attended to as there is a high level of intimidation.

Casualty is also closed, which is very disturbing.

I have requested the Gauteng Health Department to send in the army to this clinic as was done in the previous strike.

Normally about 1000 patients a day are treated there, and while many have stayed away those who are there can be helped if medical staff are assured of their safety.

It is really deplorable that doctors and nurses who put their patients first are deterred by thugs.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Health Spokesman, August 23 2010

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