DENOSA's positive challenge to Friday's inciting reporting on the Mamelodi Day hospital crisis by Daily Sun
With great reluctance, Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) would like to voice its unhappiness and concern in the manner in which Daily Sun reported the current crisis at the Mamelodi Day Hospital on Friday 22 February, under the title: "Hell Hospital!" on page 6.
This form of reporting could potentially incite conflict between community and health workers as a result of the infrastructural wrongs at that hospital, and many other hospitals around the country.
As a result of this, DENOSA and South African Medical Association (SAMA) would like to challenge Daily Sun into working with them on the Positive Practice Environment (PPE) campaign that nurses and doctors will be embarking on soon nationwide, which calls for better infrastructure and support in health facilities for the benefit of patients and the communities.
The main cause of frustration at the Mamelodi Day Hospital and many other health centres are as a result of shortage of infrastructure at the hospital. For example, the three-bed casualty ward at the hospital, which is the most critical ward in the hospital, has only one cardiac monitor that is operational. The other two monitors have been sent for repairs since January this year.
The hospital, which is the only hospital in the area, has a staff complement of around 14 people which comprise of about three doctors, three professional nurses, three enrolled nurse assistants and three or four enrolled nurse assistants. These are supported by two administrative clerks, and two cleaners.