By Palesa Matlala
· Working mothers in Soweto say government nurses turn them away after midday, even though clinics are meant to close at 4pm.
· The health department says staff must stick to working hours and no patient should be refused care at public clinics.
Mothers in Soweto are angry at nurses who they say leave work early at Bheki Mlangeni District Hospital.
They claim children are missing vaccines because they are turned away after midday, even though the hospital’s clinic is meant to close at 4pm.
Nare Meshwe, a 34-year-old retail worker, says her seven-year-old son missed his measles vaccination because she could not get to the clinic in time.
Meshwe leaves her home at 5:45am and only returns at 7:20pm on weekdays. She hoped her son would get the vaccine at school, but nurses never came.
“I saw a post on Facebook that said Bheki Mlangeni hospital gives vaccines until 3pm. I left work early and rushed him there, only to be disappointed,” she said.
She says she arrived at 2pm but was told she was too late. A nurse told her those giving the vaccines had already gone.
Meshwe had no choice but to cross the road to a private clinic, where she paid for a vaccine that is free at public facilities.
Another mother, 41-year-old Lerato Maguma, says she also paid at a private clinic because she cannot get time off during the week.
“I work the whole week and can’t get day offs. If you arrive at a government clinic after 12pm, the nurses will turn you away even though it closes at 4pm,” she said.
The Gauteng Department of Health says no patient should be refused care at any public health centre.
Spokesperson Modiba Motalatale said healthcare workers are expected to work their full hours as per their contracts.
He said mothers should try to visit clinics during opening hours to make sure their children do not miss out.
Pictured above: Measles-Rubella poster
Image source: Supplied
