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Wednesday 21 June 2017

SWAZI HEALTH CRISIS: BLOOD RUNS OUT



In another twist in the ongoing health crisis in Swaziland, the kingdom’s blood bank has run dry, putting at risk patients who are suffering from leukaemia, cancer of the blood, skin and lung cancer.

The APA news agency reported on Friday (16 June 2017) chief laboratory technologist at the Blood Bank, Gugu Maphalala said the demand of blood had gone up in recent years due to increases in diseases and blood was flowing out of the bank quicker than it came in.

The Ministry of Health has turned to inmates in correctional facilities for blood but APA reported some people were against this ‘as they said it was against certain standards’.

There has been a health crisis in Swaziland for several months as medicines in public hospitals and health clinics ran out because the Swazi Government failed to pay suppliers.

Minister of Health  Sibongile Ndlela-Simelane in a paper presented to the Swaziland Senate last Monday (12 June 2017) said, ‘This has reduced the quantity of commodities that suppliers are able to deliver before payment.’

The Swazi Observer newspaper reported, ‘Substantiating her point, Simelane said the suppliers had decried government’s failure to pay on time, stating that they also had suppliers that they too had to pay and this act by government was destroying their relationship.’

The Minister said more drugs were now being delivered.

See also

MEDICINE SHORTAGE: FIVE DIE

DRUG SHORTAGE CRISIS DEEPENS

SWAZI GOVT ‘KILLING ITS OWN PEOPLE’

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