Clinics in Soweto are failing to help youths seeking sexual advice and treatment. Suzan Chala reports
The rights to confidentiality and privacy, informed consent and access to health care are in South Africa’s “patients’ rights charter”. But at Pimville clinic in Soweto, these seem to be privileges rather than rights.
Teenagers seeking advice and treatment on sex, pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are sent from pillar to post in a bureaucratic maze, refused treatment and sometimes insulted by medical practitioners at the clinic.
Palesa Tlou (17) and Thato Lebese (18), both high school students, were refused pregnancy testing at the clinic. Tlou was told by a nurse that she was “too young to get involved in sexual activities. What do you know about pregnancy?”
Another nurse told Lebese that she couldn’t get a pregnancy test just because she was “late”. Lebese arrived at school, a kilometre from the clinic, at 9.30am after her visit to the clinic.
“She [the nurse] told me to come back the next day and when I told her that I had asked permission to absent myself from the morning classes on that day and couldn’t ask again, she said it wasn’t her problem,” said Lebese.
Lebese then went to Chiawelo clinic where she was also turned away. The clinic administrator told her that Pimville was not within their jurisdiction.
Pitso Rantho (17) was refused an HIV test at Pontshong clinic in De Deur because he had not brought his parents with him. When his mother phoned the clinic to find out why she was needed for her son’s test, the sister in charge referred her to a counsellor.
She was told that her son had to undergo counselling before testing for HIV. Her son was not tested and neither did he get counselling.
Dressed in a school uniform, posing as a 17-year-old, I visited the Pimville clinic. Patients stand in a queue from 6.30am. When the clinic opens at 7am they are treated to a church service performed by a nurse.
I’m still in a queue after what seems like a lifetime of waiting, when the administrator in an unfriendly manner shouts: “Those who are here for pregnancy tests should go to the ANC.” What does a political party have to do with pregnancy tests? Finally a cleaner explains what ANC is antenatal clinic.
At the desk where you queue for a card you are required to explain why you have come to the clinic. In an attempt not to be heard by other patients I whispered: “I have come for a pregnancy test, an HIV test and STD test.” The nurse, obviously irritated, ordered me to speak louder. When I did so she shouted at me, telling me that I was “a pain in the neck”, that I “want too many things” and that the clinic does not have pregnancy test kits.
A sympathetic nurse called me to a corner and showed me to a room where I “would get help”. I peeped at the other patients cards in a queue there was one common thing: written at the top was “STD”.
In the consultation room, the nurse locked the door and asked me to explain what the problem was. “You people are told every day about HIV/Aids, but you still don’t use condoms and when you get it you start blaming people saying that they treat you badly,” she shouted.
After the examination she gave me pills and when I asked what was wrong with me she said “an STD”.
“Which one?” I asked.
“Please leave,” was her answer. She told me I did not meet the requirements for an HIV test, which is to contract an STD.
But she had just told me that I had an STD, despite the fact that a recent examination I had at a private hospital proved that I was healthy and STD-free.
Without her permission I went to room five where I was told people who test for HIV go, but it was locked. At 10.30am room five was still locked.
The Gauteng Department of Health condemned the actions of health practitioners at these clinics, saying they were a “violation of the patient’s rights’ charter”.
Director of communications Popo Maja said the health department was committed to a people-friendly health care service and that it had held a health quality summit with clinic managers to address “issues of attitudes”.
“It’s a pity that regardless of all the efforts the department has been doing to upgrade the standard of service in public health care, some people still behave this way,” said Maja.
He said they would meet with the management of Pimville, Chiawelo and Pontshong clinics to address these issues.
Maja called on the public to assist in identifying violators of patients’ rights. “Patients should report such people, they should identify the rotten potatoes in the bag.”