Buziwe Nocuze
A nurse working at a hospital in the Eastern Cape was assaulted after telling a man that he must bring his injured friend into the hospital in order to treat him.
When a speeding vehicle arrived outside Uitenhage Provincial Hospital, it was clear that they were rushing someone to get urgent medical attention. But the vehicle didn’t enter the hospital premises.
Instead, one of the occupants walked inside the hospital and demanded that a nurse help his friend who was in the car.
When the nurse told him to bring the patient into the hospital, he punched and kicked her repeatedly.
Denosa Regional Chairperson Vuyo Nodlawu said the attack came after the nurse refused to help the man with the gunshot wounds outside the hospital.
Nodlawu added that the nurse managed to free herself and escape but the attack left everyone shocked and fearing for their lives.
“Should our friend die, we will come back and shoot everyone,” the men allegedly threatened before they left their badly wounded friend at the hospital.
Nodlawu said that the wounded man later died of his injuries.
Eastern Cape Department of Health MEC Nomakhosazana Meth has condemned the brutal assault and threats made against nurses.
“Counselling will be offered to the workers. The management has arranged for staff to cover the day shift as both day and night shift staff are traumatised by the events,” said Meth.
She asked the communities to treat healthcare workers with respect and care instead of assaulting and threatening them. She said what happened might lead to compromised service delivery as people fear for their lives.
“It can’t continue that hardworking and dedicated healthcare workers are targeted by thugs in Nelson Mandela Bay. We condemn this thuggery,” she said.
A resident told Scrolla.Africa gangsters have less and less regard for the important institutions around them.
“This is the gangsters’ work. It is sad and needs to be stopped,” said the resident.
