Coming up on
Special Assignment this week:
Episode title: What is the value of human life?
Broadcast date: Thursday, 18 April 2013
Teaser ...
Thembi Mahlangu.
This week’s Special Assignment highlights the ongoing health crisis in the Limpopo Province. Over time, reports have indicated that most of the province’s hospitals have been running without essential medication, staff and food shortages.
Others, like the Mankweng hospital, are said to have been stuck with dirty laundry and a dysfunctional mortuary service for a considerable period. Furthermore, the lack of resources has resulted in inefficient emergency services and malfunctioning equipment which have compromised the quality of public health in the province.
As a result, loss of life has been alleged and experts point to a need to deal with systematic problems and management failures. However, behind these failures are human beings who are on the receiving end of these sub-standard health services, many of whom feel helpless about their options for redress.
One of these is 36-year old wheelchair bound Thembi Mahlangu from Mahwelereng near Mokopane. She currently suffers from serious respiratory problems allegedly following an incident where nurses at the Mahwelereng clinic left her in a room where an oxygen cylinder had exploded.
Apparently, she was later given the wrong prescription medication which caused deterioration in her condition, until she was advised to seek private medical help. The Human Rights Commission is currently considering her application for intervention.
Another case involves Michael Legodi who has been using crutches for almost two years following a car accident but cannot receive post operation care because the staff members at the Seshego hospital have lost his medical file.
Experts warn that the kind of treatment meted out to ordinary people who depend on public health care for survival devalues human life and is in contravention of the constitution.
What rights do ordinary people have in the face of malfunctioning health care systems?
What is the value of human life? is produced by Amos Phago.
Special Assignment is on SABC3 on Thursdays at 21h30.