“The clinic is a big help to us because we do not have to go to town for basic health services”
Nolusindiso September
Clinics
While former president Nelson Mandela’s education legacy in the Eastern Cape is in tatters, his drive to better healthcare tells a different story.
The five clinics visited by the Herald are thriving with patients and villagers heaping praise on the work being done to treat the sick.
The clinics, who were unaware that the Herald would visit, were clean and well-maintained.
The Qunu clinic, opened by Mandela himself in March 2001 and not far from his homestead, was built with funding from resort and hotel chain Sun International.
It was the busiest of all the clinics visited and cost in the region of R2-million to build.
“The clinic is a big help to us because we do not have to go to town for basic health services,” said villager Nolusindiso September.
Community response to the condition of Ndonga clinic in Lady Frere was similar to that in Mandela’s home village.
Community response to the condition of Ndonga clinic in Lady Frere was similar to that in Mandela’s home village.
“The nurses at the clinic are always very helpful when they assist us and they refer us to the hospital [Glen Grey] in town when there is a need,” said patient Simbosakhe Dlokolo, 54.
The clinic was opened, along with the secondary school in the village, by Madiba and former BMW AG chairman Professor Joachim Milberg in 2001. According to its website BMW donated R5-million towards the projects.
Proudly hanging in one of the offices is a 2007 Eastern Cape Health Department second runner-up health excellence award.
The Mngazi clinic in Mgwenyana village close to Port St John’s, opened by Mandela in 2002 with the funder, Absa bank, was also in good condition.
“I do not have any complaints about the clinic. It always has the medicine we need,” said villager Nomsa Gumede, 53.
The Sangoni clinic, opened by Mandela in 1998 with funding from German engineering conglomerate, Siemens, was no exception when it came to happy patients.
Daliwonga clinic in KwaMpisi village in Bizana was the only clinic where there was a complaint from a nurse, because there was no running water inside the clinic.
Together with a school, the clinic was funded by Vodacom to the tune of R10-million, and, opened by Mandela in 2000.
“We also need a lawnmower because there are dangerous snakes in this area. They could bite and kill patients while they sleep in the shade of our trees,” said the nurse, who cannot be named.
But residents had no complaints about the clinic. It was fully stocked and well staffed.
Eastern Cape health department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said the department respects “anything attached to Mandela’s name”.
“The department owes it to Madiba to ensure that we sustain and maintain his legacy. He laid the foundation for the department and our job is to maintain these clinics. We have made it a point that anyone who donates a structure works with the department. They build and we take over the maintenance.”
Referring to Daliwonga clinic Kupelo said: “There is no reason why there should be no running water inside the clinic and that the grass should be overgrown. I will ensure it is quickly attended to.” – Mkhululi Ndamase and Riaan Marais