At least five people in Limpopo have drowned during the recent torrential rains in the province. Residents in parts of the province now face disruptions to health services.
Services at the Witpoort Hospital in the Lephalale Local Municipality, Waterberg District have been suspended since Tuesday and patients evacuated because of severe threats of floods.
Patients were evacuated during the day due to the overflow of the nearby Palala dam following heavy rains in the region, according to Limpopo health department spokesperson Neil Shakwambana.
“The overflow has caused significant flooding in the area, leading to the temporary closure of the hospital for safety and operational reasons,” explains Shikwambana in a statement.
The department assures the public the evacuation process was being carried out with utmost care and urgency to ensure that all patients have been transferred to a safe and secure environment.
“Community members around Witpoort Hospital who require medical assistance are advised to seek services at the nearby clinics of Shogoane, Seleka and Abbotspoort.
“Those with emergencies are advised to go to Ellisrus Hospital, which is fully operational and equipped to provide health care services during this emergency situation,” says the statement.
Medical staff and resources from Witpoort Hospital are being allocated to nearby facilities to ensure disruptions of essential health care do not occur.
Wider community affected
A 51-year-old resident of Galakwena village in Mokopane says she could not leave her house to go for a medical check-up at Mokopane Hospital in Mahwelereng on Friday because her village was cut off.
“Roads were impassable, Kgole river here was overflowing, bridges are broken and every space was flooded. I only managed to go to Mokopane Hospital on Monday because water had subsided and I had to walk to spots which were manoeuvrable before I caught a lift,” she says.
Possible state of disaster
On Wednesday, Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba and other provincial government officials visited severely flood-damaged areas in Modimolle-Mookgopong in Waterberg District to assess the devastation.
Earlier the premier declared her intention to request the national government to declare a state of disaster in Limpopo in order to release more resources to rebuild infrastructure and to save lives as threats of further downpours loom. – Health-e News
