Yesterday afternoon I made my way to the Helen Joseph hospital down town Jozi to visit a patient. I was appalled with the state of this government hospital and at the manner in which patients were treated. I felt saddened and heart broken seeing ailing patients walking up a flight of stairs simply because the elevators were not working. Bathrooms were dirty with a horrible stench emanating from them. Taps were broken and some of the disabled bathrooms were out of order. How can patients get well when they are being treated in such unhygienic filthy conditions. I spoke to a few patients who mentioned to me that they waited 15 hours before a bed could be provided for them. Some of these patients were cancer patients whilst others required a bed due to pain associated with kidney or gallstones. One gentleman, an elderly white Afrikaans speaking man simply took his belongings and left. He said that he will die in the hospital. He is not being attended to adequately. I was also told that whilst these patients were dumped in a room awaiting a bed, they were cold with no blankets provided to them. The hot/cold air conditioning system was also out of order. Many families came to the hospital with their own blankets and bedding.One patient told me that she had to make her own bed as the nurse told her that it is not her responsibility to make a bed. The patient complained that her arms were sore and could not make the bed on her own. It was brought to my attention today that there is no hot water in the cancer ward. In 2013 a primitive system of heating water by a kettle or thermostat like gadget is used. The water is placed in a big dish and patients are told to take a face cloth and wipe themselves all over. Only a cold water shower is available. How can people still vote for a government and for leaders that are not worried about the interests of the people but rather worried about filling up their own pockets. Without being racist but simply stating a fact, under the White Afrikaans government this use to be one the best government hospitals in the Johannesburg region. Today the hospital looks dull and dreary and the atmosphere of the hospital is depressing where patients are bound to come across broken toilet doors and graffiti walls. I felt heart broken yesterday seeing the pain and suffering that many of the patients have to go through at our government hospitals and yet we have a moron president who spent R 200 million on his family home for his own luxury and pleasure. Our leaders and members of parliament should be admitted at government hospitals so that they can go through the same pain and suffering as the ordinary citizens of this country. To Mr. Zuma I would like to say that you can enjoy this world to the fullest. Steal more money from the taxpayers but remember that the day you die, you will rot in hell because God has entrusted you with a responsibility towards the citizens of this country. Clearly you have failed in all aspects of government. Shame on you Mr. President.
