Note to Editors: Please find attached a video by Mariette Pittaway MPL, DA Whip of the Official Opposition in the Free State Legislature
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has lodged a formal complaint to the Human Rights Commission to investigate the lack of healthcare services at the Kosmos Care and Rehabilitation Centre at the Free State Psychiatric Complex in Bloemfontein. This follows several complaints received regarding the poor state of healthcare and severe human rights violations at the state healthcare facility, consequent to nursing personnel being on strike due to the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) and lack of decontamination at wards.
On 27 July 2020, upon receiving the complaints, the DA immediately wrote an urgent letter to the Free State MEC of Health, Montseng Tsiu, requesting her intervention. Despite, the urgent nature of our communication, the DA has to date, not received any feedback nor an acknowledgement of receipt from the MEC, a testament to her term in office.
It was reported to the DA, that patients had been locked in wards all day without any supervision and without food, whilst suffering from physical disability. Additionally, patients experienced distress from not receiving their prescribed medication and some patients were found naked as there was no laundry service that morning. The storerooms with diapers and other consumables was locked and technical services had to be called in to cut the locks.
The management at this state healthcare facility was made aware of the situation at hand and the fundamental human rights violations experienced by these anguished patients. People with mental illness are among some of the most vulnerable people in our society due to their dependence on others for care and support.
In a reply to a written question posed in the Free State Legislature, by the DA to the MEC for Health, on the availability of PPE at Free State health institutions, the MEC stated that there are no shortages of PPE in the province.
The DA regards the sinister acts displayed by the Department and the MEC as grossly negligent and aligns itself with aspects of severe constitutional and legislative injustices. The MEC has a moral and legal duty to demonstrate leadership, which she has failed to demonstrate time and time again. The DA has also escalated the matter to the National Department of Health for further investigation.
The DA wish to thank the volunteers who immediately, despite the fear of contamination, took action to feed and clean the 480 vulnerable patients at the Free State Psychiatric Complex who cannot fend for themselves. We salute you and you inspire us.