In an effort to avert a disaster, the City of Johannesburg has shut down and relocated services from the 80 Albert Street Clinic after the building housing the facility fell into disrepair.
“This decision comes after an assessment of the building by the City’s environmental health inspectors, who declared it to be in a bad state. We decided to close it for the safety and security of all our staff members and patients,” says City of Joburg’s Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health, Dr Mpho Phalatse.
She says services are being relocated to ensure that the provision of primary healthcare in the area is not compromised.
The building in which the clinic is located has been affected by the sudden influx of informal dwellers. Environmental Health Inspectors have reported, among others, water seeping through the walls straight into the health facility, as vagrants continue to partition the building’s top floors and connect illegally to the clinic’s water and electricity system.
This has resulted in the building being in contravention of the City’s Occupational Health and Safety laws and the Environmental Health legislation. The structure has also failed to comply with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, as well as the Labour Relations Act, which require health practitioners to work in a healthy and conducive environment.
Earlier this week, Dr Phalatse visited the clinic to inform staff of Council’s decision to relocate health services. “I am shocked at the rapid decline of the building, especially after repair work was recently done,” she said.
The MMC says the closure of the facility will be done with caution to avoid compromising services to patients, particularly those on chronic medication.
“As custodians of health in the City, we need to lead by example and abide by environmental health standards. Continuing to operate under these circumstances would be a direct violation of even the City’s service with pride mantra,” she explains.
A task team has been established to manage the closure and transfer of the clinic’s staff members and patient records to Jeppe, Esselen and Rosettenville clinics, which are within a 5km radius of 80 Albert Street, which is a World Health Organisation recommendation.
The City has also made these clinics available to patients from 80 Albert Street:
• Malvern Clinic 6.3km
• Yeoville Clinic 3.9km
• Hillbrow CHC 1.7km
• South Hills Clinic 7.9km
• Mayfair Clinic 3.7km
