MTHATHA: The community of ST Cuthbert's at Tsolo since the morning today gathered at the hospital gates (ST LUCY'S), where they were against the alleged closure of the ST LUCY'S hospital. While community gathered outside, inside the hospital some of the leaders that include the community leader uNkosi Bambelela Mbabama held a meeting with the hostipal management to discuss about this matter. ''As community of ST Cuthbert's we oppossed any proposal that promotes the closure of this hospital (ST LUCY'S)'' said Mbabama. The alligations about the closure came the underspotlight since there is a newly build hospital at Tsolo Town.
Mbabama also outlined that ''This hospital was build by our great and grand parents to provide health to our rural communities''. Mbabama indicated that they wrote a letter adressed to the provincial MEC about this matter, but they received no responce yet, but are still waiting for the province to respond.
The community was very angry from these allegations. The tensions between the Eastern Cape Department of Health and the ST Cuthbert's community were resolved by the arrival of the officials from the provincial health department at the Imbizo held at Mbabama's place in the afternoon, they include Mrs Macingwane chief director, Mrs Nyikane director (provincial), District manager Mr Bezane and Mr Buhlungu from the district. According to the chief director Mrs Macingwane the hospital will function in full course. She stated that the newly build hospital already employed 114 employers indicated that the employees, are not going to be removed from the ST Lucy's as the community feared. Macingwane said the new Tsolo hospital which is 28 Km from ST Lucy's supposed to be open in June but the delays caused by the lack of the equipment which waited for. The community task team which will be responsible to observe the promices from the department was formed. Macingwane concluded by promising the angry community that they will receive the responce on their letters soon. Olwethu Z. Mhaga.
