Patients decry ill-treatment in health facilities
By Thokozani Mazibuko
Patients with chronic illnesses, especially those on antiretroviral therapy (ART), are speaking out about how they are treated in clinics and hospitals around the country.
Several patients, who asked not to be named, say they often face verbal abuse, humiliation, and neglect from health workers.
“There is a lot of tongue-lashing and abuse from the nurses in these facilities. We are made to wait and languish in long queues while they just sit in their offices,” lamented one patient who has been receiving ART for several years.
Another patient shared a similar ordeal, explaining how missing a clinic appointment, even unintentionally, can lead to harsh treatment. “Once it happens that you accidentally miss your clinic visit, they mistreat you. Instead of understanding our situation, they shout at us and make us feel like we are a burden,” the patient said.
Young people, who make up a significant number of those on ART, say this kind of treatment is pushing them away from health services.
“If they continue with this maltreatment, the youth will not attend hospitals where there is no warm welcome,” one patient explained, adding that stigma and poor service are discouraging young people from seeking the lifesaving medication.
Health experts warn that this kind of behaviour from health workers could undo years of progress against HIV/AIDS and other chronic diseases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says that care based on respect, dignity, and empathy is key to helping patients stick to lifelong treatments like ART.
Civil society groups have also raised concerns about reports of mistreatment in public health facilities. They are urging the Ministry of Health to focus on ongoing training for healthcare workers in ethics, patient care, and mental health support.
The Ministry of Health has not officially responded to these claims. However, some insiders say that staff shortages and heavy workloads in health facilities may be causing frustration among nurses and doctors.
However, patients insist that no level of stress or pressure should justify abusive behavior in places meant to be safe havens for the sick.
As the country continues to battle the dual challenges of high HIV prevalence and chronic illness rates, advocates stress that restoring trust between patients and healthcare providers must be a priority.
“Respect, compassion, and timely service can go a long way in encouraging adherence to treatment,” one health rights activist told this newspaper. “Without this, patients will simply stay away and the consequences could be devastating for public health.”
