Locals rejoice over new clinic

Locals in Kanyamazane will no longer have to wait in queues for long hours at their local clinic. This follows a new clinic that is currently under construction behind the Kanyamazane shopping complex.

The building site for the new clinic in Kanyamazane. PHOTOS BY TWNA

“I am very happy about this new clinic as it will be the answer to the long queues we usually experience in the only clinic in the community. I am old and it is a challenge for me to wait in a queue from morning until I can get help around 15:00,” says a community member, gogo Sarah Makamu.
Last year, locals went on a strike, complaining about different issues they experience in the only operational clinic in the community. Finally, the Department of Health is building a new clinic that is aimed at benefiting locals and will also create job opportunities.
The spokesperson for the Department of Health, Dumisani Malamule said: “The project all-inclusive of Health Technology (equipment) and operational costs would be plus/minus R140 million.”
He explained that the project is done in two parts, “the first part is the earthwork and levelling of the platform which is done by the Mbombela and is set for completion by October/November 2017.
“The second phase is the construction of the superstructure done by the Department which the advertisement will be done on October and the construction is to commence in February 2018 and the project will be completed after 18 months.”
Locals including the youth, expressed their delight about the new clinic, Nomcebo Nkosi said: “This shows that our government is working and is being thoughtful towards us. This will give us as youth job opportunities – and I know that the infrastructure will benefit everyone ranging from youth to adults.”
A 62-year-old man, Aaron Gwebu said he could not wait to get service from the new clinic and “I am sure that since there will be two clinics in the areas, we will no longer suffer from long queues. We will really be thankful to see the building going up as that will give us more assurance that soon we will have a new clinic.”

*This article was written by Constance Sithole, a TWNA journalist for Kasi Express