Publisher: Getty images
Reflection: In this picture above a lighthouse is under construction, it is being renovated to restore its normal form. So why did I take this specific, out of the ordinary picture? The reason why i took this picture to represent a patient’s point of view in the South African health care system is, because I see the patient as this broken lighthouse. The patient is sick (broken) and goes to the health care system to receive treatment (construction). a Lighthouse has a very important function, it must provide sight for the people on sea so that they know where they are. So is the patient also very important, he/she is the light for the people in their life and for them to continue being the light they must receive treatment from a broken South African health care system. The health care system is represented as the construction part in the photo. Every SA resident will tell you how delayed construction is in South Africa and it is the same case in our Health care facilities. Due to our low economy people are dependent on day clinics and government hospitals and the service there is horrific. To conclude the patient has the expectation to receive quality treatment and be healed, but the reality in SA is that the standards of health care services is not up to date.
Relating to Physiotherapy treatment. As I mentioned most people are dependent on government hospitals and not all the hospitals has sufficient physiotherapy staff to treat the patients for the amount of time required because the physiotherapist must see a lot of patient’s throughout the day. Another thing is not all the people have access to physiotherapy treatment due to finances or the location where they reside.
Literature: According to Refiloe Nt’sekhe South – African public hospitals have become a death trap for the poor. There are chronic staff shortages and long waiting times. For an example at the Bongani hospital in the Free State, they found that they only had one nephrology sister where they need nine to meet standards (Timeslive, 2018).
Public health fail: Report reveals that SA’s health facilities are in crisis. Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Health, has revealed the horrific state of South Africa health facilities, which a huge majority of clinics and hospitals all operating below standards (Breakfast, 2018).
The government is working harder to improve South Africa’s health care system. Final preparations are in place to establish the National Health Insurance system, this was according to former President Jacob Zuma. In his State of Nation address the improvements of the health system will include the building and upgrading of hospitals and clinics as well as the improvement of working conditions in the healthcare sector (BuaNews, 2010). This was just empty promises and we are still looking for the results.
References:
Breakfast, S. (2018, June 6). Public health fail: Report reveals that SA’s health facilities are in crisis. Retrieved May 15, 2019, from South African: https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/public-health-fail-report-reveals-that-sas-health-facilities-are-in-crisis/
BuaNews. (2010, February 12). Improving South Africa’s health system. Retrieved May 15, 2019, from Brand South Africa: https://www.brandsouthafrica.com/governance/government/stateofnation2010-health
Timeslive. (2018, June 14). Eight alarm bells at South African state hospitals. Retrieved May 15, 2019, from Sunday times: https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2018-06-14-eight-alarm-bells-at-south-african-state-hospitals/
One thought on “Are we ever going to be better than this? || Angelo Du Toit”
I think your picture makes a good symbolic illustration of your message considering the South African healthcare system. I feel it gives me a little more insight into how, both you and probably a lot of South Africans, see the system. And it must be frustrating.
It is also sad to here that it’s a lot of people that doesn’t have access to physiotherapy treatment.
On the other hand, I feel I’m only getting a small glimpse. It makes me curious of how the system works, more specifically. How does the day clinic work, and what are the biggest problems? Maybe you could present some examples?
I like your text, and Think the writing is good! It is straightforward, honest and easy to read.
You could maybe work a little bit more on the academic part, and also add some references ?