Work resumes at Lillian Ngoyi Community Health Centre

Patients wait with the hope of being attended to at the Lillian Ngoyi Community Health Centre in Soweto.Image: Boxer Ngwenya

Patients wait with the hope of being attended to at the Lillian Ngoyi Community Health Centre in Soweto.Image: Boxer Ngwenya

Published May 19, 2022

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By: Siyabonga Sithole

Worked has resumed at the Lillian Ngoyi Community Health Centre in Soweto.

This follows disruptions of electricity said to have been ongoing for two months.

The Star paid a visit to the facility this morning and patients were being assisted and stuff attending to their normal duties.

There were queues but kept to a minimum, the facility’s Head of Department (HOD), Matron Ngidi declined to comment on the numerous issues including power supply that hamper functionality at the centre.

She did not want to give the Star and referred the publication to the provincial office for an official statement.

"I can't comment on what you are asking me. We are not allowed to speak to the media and this could cost me my job. You are welcome to speak to the PRO's office who is authorized to give comment to the media," Ngidi said.

It is still not clear if the clinic is using normal electricity supply connected to the City Power grid or they are utilising a generator which according to sources have been the source of power for over two months.

Scebiso Masondo from the councillor's office said they contacted City Power and were told that the electricity utility would send their technicians to assess the situation.

" During our follow-up with City Power we learnt that the community health centre connected it’s power from the main source of the hospital itself and that they were not connected independently. I understand also that the power is back on today but I’m not sure if this is a permanent solution or temporary one, " Masondo told The Star.

Meanwhile attempts to get comment from the department of health and City Power have been unsuccessful.

However, a happy Asanda Ndlovu of Orlando East who is one of the patients in the line who had in the past few days given up on ever receiving help said she hopes the issue is something of the past now.

"I hope today will be better than the past fee days. It was frustrating to have to stand in the line not knowing if we will be serviced. At least today things look like they are back to normal,“ said Ndlovu