Joburg clinic closed over health concerns

The city’s MMC Health and Social Development Mpho Phalatse says the decision to close the clinic was unanimous.  

"A unanimous decision was taken to temporarily close down the clinic and relocate services to the nearest health facilities to ensure that primary healthcare services continue. The decision comes following an assessment by the city’s environmental health inspectors, who declared the building where 80 Albert Street clinic is housed, a bad building," says the MMC’sLesego Mathibela.

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The decision was taken after workers reported several health hazards in and around the clinic.

"The current conditions in the clinic are clearly in contravention of the Occupational Health and Safety as well as the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, as well as the Labour Relations Act that require our health workers to work in a healthy and conducive environment.

 "The 80 Albert Clinic is situated on the first floor in the Heritage Building that is surrounded by an informal settlement and the car repairs’ small businesses. There is a number of unknown occupants in the building. Some of the occupants allegedly belonged to an NGO that worked with the provincial social development.

“Illegal squatters who have moved into the building continue to compromise the facility which was recently repaired."

 Phalatse visited the clinic during the week to inform the staff of the decision.

"She informed staff at the clinic that the temporary closure of the facility will be done properly to ensure that the service rendered to patients is not compromised, especially those who are on chronic medication.

“As the custodians of environmental health in the city, we need to lead by example and abide by environmental health standards."

A committee has been put in place to manage the closure and the transfer of patients and staff to Jeppe, Esselen and Rossetenville clinics.