The Department of Health in the Free State had to cancel certain surgeries at various hospitals across the province due to drought implications.

Provincial health spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, says Manapo Mopeli Hospital is conducting some surgeries, however, most of its patients who need operations are referred to Dihlabeng Hospital in Bethlehem or to Bloemfontein.

Mvambi explains that the transfers need to be consistent with the water levels at the hospital as well as maintaining the infection control levels.

“We are not conducting any surgeries at Phuthuloha Hospital in Ficksburg. We refer our patients in need of surgery to Dihlabeng Hospital in Bethlehem so that they can have surgery in well-sanitised conditions. The drought is affecting us negatively. There is no downplaying this issue. Boitumelong Hospital in Kroonstad is well supported by the Moqhaka Municipality and the time when they had water shortages throughout Moqhaka, they have recovered from that situation. We have found a very well-functioning borehole in Boitumelong Hospital which we have reactivated and it is currently in use,” he says.

REFILWE GAESWE