Elim hospital's woes continue with broken X-ray machine

The historic Elim Hospital continues to struggle to deliver adequate services to its communities. In addition to persistent water shortages, the hospital has not had a reliable X-ray machine for the past year, forcing it to refer patients to the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital.

Founded in 1899 by Swiss missionaries to treat local communities, particularly for eye conditions, Elim Hospital quickly earned a strong reputation in the region. In 1976, the government took over its management when it was nationalised as part of a broader shift toward government-run health care in South Africa.

Throughout the 20^th century, Elim Hospital played a crucial role in rural health care, providing essential services to communities with limited access to medical care. However, today, the hospital faces significant challenges, including aging infrastructure, outdated equipment, a non-functional X-ray machine, and a water shortage that began in 2019 when the hospital’s two boreholes dried up.

During a recent visit to the hospital, Limpopo Mirror spoke with several patients. Two elderly men and women were waiting for transport to Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital for X-ray services. One elderly woman, who preferred to remain anonymous, explained that she had missed her transport while waiting to see a doctor and now had to wait until the next group of patients could be transferred.

“Now I have to wait for other patients to arrive, so we can all be transferred to the hospital at Louis Trichardt, which is frustrating,” she said.

Dzunisani Chauke from Waterval recounted his experience after arriving at the hospital on 26 October with head and hand injuries, only to find the X-ray machine out of service. Nurses informed him he would be transferred to Louis Trichardt the following day.

“The situation forced me to sleep at the hospital, and I was in pain, but I stayed strong because younger patients were also waiting to be transferred. We all had to wait until the transport vehicle was full,” he said.

The ongoing water shortage at the hospital also poses a serious risk to hygiene standards. Chauke added that when they woke up, there was no water, and some patients had to use restrooms without running water as containers had yet to be filled. “The water issue is a problem, and sometimes family members have to bring water to the hospital,” he added.

Lawrence Muvhango, the Limpopo organisational officer for the Public Servants Association (PSA), said they became aware of the X-ray machine malfunction in August 2024 but were informed the issue had persisted for over a year. He explained that the machine functioned for only two days at a time before breaking down for weeks, until it became unmanageable in August. Muvhango added that the hospital management has limited ability to address the issue as the budget for servicing the machines is centralised at the district office in Thohoyandou.

“The process of securing service providers is lengthy, and the PSA is deeply concerned about the department's failure to address the ongoing issues with the X-ray machine and the water shortage,” Muvhango said. He mentioned that the PSA had sent a letter to the head of department (HOD) requesting urgent action on both matters, and they awaited a response before considering further steps.

“These issues affect our members’ performance, disadvantage the public, and violate their right to access basic health care and safe working conditions,” he said.

Limpopo Department of Health spokesperson Neil Shikwambana acknowledged that the X-ray machine had been malfunctioning for weeks, with repairs providing only temporary fixes. He said they were currently in the process of replacing the problematic component, the processor, and that patients were being referred to Louis Trichardt Memorial for X-rays in the meantime.

“Hospitals require an uninterrupted water supply, but unfortunately, that is not the case at Elim. The communities are well aware of this challenge, which we have raised over the years. Despite these issues, the hospital continues to deliver services to the community as expected,” Shikwambana said.

Date:09 November 2024

By: Thembi Siaga

Thembi Siaga started as an intern during 2021. He assisted with video photography and editing. He also produced numerous small documentaries, focusing on the Vhembe region and its people. Currently he works as a freelance journalist, covering stories in the Elim area. Thembi studied at the Tshwane University of Technology, where he completed his diploma in Journalism in 2021.

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