Limpopo Health MEC Dieketseng Mashego has called for immediate improvements at Kulani Gateway Clinic under Elim Hospital, saying basic conditions at the facility must be urgently addressed.
Mashego conducted an oversight visit on Tuesday, 19 May, as part of the department’s ongoing Bophelo Pele initiative programme.
The programme focuses on monitoring service delivery, engaging healthcare workers and assessing operations at public health facilities. During the visit, the MEC interacted with patients and staff, observing daily service delivery challenges at the clinic and highlighting concerns about poor infrastructure and record-keeping systems.
She said urgent steps must be taken to improve the working environment, including proper storage systems for patient files. “We have a crisis as the files are a mess and they should get cupboards,” Mashego said.
She acknowledged the age and condition of Elim Hospital and surrounding facilities, but stressed that available resources must still be used to ensure acceptable standards of care. “We understand that Elim is old, but with what we have, let’s make the clinic acceptable,” she said.
Patients at the clinic raised concerns about service efficiency and administrative challenges, while healthcare workers highlighted pressure linked to limited infrastructure and increasing demand.