Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa

Media statement

Friday, 17 April 2015

The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) is concerned with the increasing pressure on the country’s health facilities as results of violent xenophobic attacks that some South Africans are leading, and would like to call for a stop on xenophobic attacks as a matter of urgency.

DENOSA calls on all political, church, traditional and community leaders to provide leadership in the communities where the attacks have erupted and plead for tolerance. We also call for the same on community leaders in areas where this cancer has not infected. Failure to heed the call may result in a negative practice environment, as almost 100 percent of both the perpetrators and the victims of xenophobic attacks are dependent on the country’s public health. 

DENOSA’s fear is that health budget may dry up quickly while there are patients living in the same communities who are on chronic medication and rely on their nearest health centres to provide such medication.     

This man-made chaos has ripple effects and causes unnecessary strain on the already scarce resources in health facilities. Innocent people are burnt alive and sustain such terrible and life-threatening injuries that need urgent admission to hospitals and clinics, and they become priorities because of their injuries.

This is the end-result of the reckless xenophobic attacks. DENOSA would like to warn South Africans in the areas most affected by xenophobic attacks that if they don’t stop these attacks on foreign nationals, there may come a time where there will not be enough beds or medication next time they visit their nearest hospitals or clinics, because they may have been used in treating the injured people.

While it becoming obvious that some locals can’t be convinced against their act of attacking innocent foreign nationals, DENOSA would like to make them understand, however, that in terms of World Health Organisation (WHO), foreign nationals can’t be denied to access to health service while in South Africa, regardless of their status in this country.

While this cancer began in Durban, the reality is that it is starting to widen to the country’s economic hub, Gauteng, and the effects of this will be felt on many fronts, including health. DENOSA would like to warn of the following possible negative effects on health in Gauteng as a result of xenophobic attacks, which residents must brace themselves for:

-       Longer queues;

-       Prolonged waiting period;

-       Severe shortage of medication and equipment;

-       Shortage of health workers and loss of lives that would ordinarily have been saved, following Treasury’s announcement to withdraw funding for positions which have been vacant for a while;

-       Restlessness by patients 

DENOSA is concerned that the effects of these xenophobic attacks don’t seem to be considered. The effects will be felt by both patients and health workers, most of who may be charged with negligence because of shortage of resources and medication in the facilities where they work.

DENOSA says ‘Stop xenophobic attacks now!’

End

Issued by the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA)

For more information, contact:

Simon Hlungwani, DENOSA President

Mobile: 079 501 4922

Email: simonh@denosa.org.za

Or

Sibongiseni Delihlazo, DENOSA Communications Manager

Mobile: 079 875 2663

Email: sibongisenid@denosa.org.za

Website: www.denosa.org.za

Facebook: DENOSA National Page

Twitter: @DENOSAORG