PRESS RELEASE: SWAZILAND HEALTH FACILITIES NOT FIT FOR A PRINCE

PRESS RELEASE: 29 APRIL 2012 - SWAZILAND HEALTH FACILITIES NOT FIT FOR A PRINCE

The Swaziland Diaspora Platform has learned that Prince Majaha, son to Inkhosikati LaMotsa, has been hospitalised at a hospital in South Africa after injuring himself during a motorbike race. Reliable information gathered is that the Prince was airlifted in an unconscious state from Swaziland to South Africa in a desperate effort to save his life. 

 As a human being and fellow Swazi we wish the Prince a speedy recovery. 

 We hope that the government will realise that there are many other Swazis like Prince Majaha who face life-threatening medical emergencies, but do not have the luxury of a prompt medical response like the young Prince.  These are the Swazis who die everyday in ill-equipped Swazi hospitals owing to government's neglect of our health system.  That Prince Majaha stared death in the face and could only be saved outside of Swazi borders is a sad reminder that the priorities in Swaziland are mixed up. 

 The Swaziland Diaspora Platform hopes that the fate suffered by Prince Majaha will make the government realise that it is better to equip your own hospitals than to look to neighbouring states which are only reachable through long and costly travels. Importantly, that government will see the importance of ensuring a good and well-equipped public health system will save many other lives. 

 As it is, there's a TB crisis in Swaziland, the only government TB hospital situated in Moneni, Manzini, doesn't have sufficient infection control measures, even standard UV lights used to kill the TB bacilli in the wards are not working, increasing the likelihood of the spread of TB outside of the hospital.  

 Already 3 healthcare workers have died from MDR and other personnel such as drivers of patients are being treated for TB infection due to lack of control measures. Healthcare workers have resorted to recusing themselves from working in an unsafe environment as prescribed by Swaziland's Occupational Health and Safety Act. 

 However, government went to the Industrial Court to have the move by healthcare workers declared an illegal strike. The Industrial Court sided with the government and ordered workers back to work. The Industrial Court failed to have the issue that is keeping workers from work investigated especially since it affects not only their health, but their mortality. Healthcare workers have responded by filing an appeal and also getting a stay of execution on the order that they should return to work. The Appeal continues on Thursday 3rd May. 

 Statement issued by SDP 

Spokesperson Ntombenhle Khathwane 

+27 72 327 6497 

 Email: swazidiaspora@gmail.com 

Twitter: @swazidiaspora