Department makes U-turn on reopening Chuene Clinic 

The Limpopo Department of Health has made a U-turn on its decision to reopen the Chuene Clinic outside Polokwane. On Tuesday, the department announced that they would reopen the facility after a few days of being closed. 

This is after an unfortunate incident where two nurses were raped by known men and security assaulted. 

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In the meantime, community members are advised to continue seeking healthcare services at nearby facilities. This includes Maja, Soetfontein and Block B until the situation at Chuene Clinic is resolved.

“The clinic will remain closed indefinitely until further notice,” said department spokesperson Neil Shikwambana. 

CHUENE CLINIC U-TURN EXPLAINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 

“This decision follows a thorough reassessment of the impact that the devastating incidents, including break-ins, robbery, abduction, and sexual assault of the nursing staff, have had on the affected personnel. After careful consideration of the emotional and psychological toll these traumatic events have had on the staff, as well as taking heed of their legitimate safety concerns, the department believes it is in the best interest of both healthcare workers and the community to temporarily halt the clinic’s operations.

“We acknowledge and deeply regret the trauma that the healthcare workers at Chuene Clinic have experienced. The safety, well-being, and mental health of our healthcare professionals are of utmost importance, and their concerns must be addressed before any resumption of services can take place,” he said. 

“The department is committed to improving security measures at all healthcare facilities across the province to ensure that our healthcare workers can perform their duties without fear for their safety. We will work closely with relevant stakeholders, including law enforcement and community leaders, to ensure that adequate protections are in place at the clinic before it is reopened.”