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On a scorching summer time day, sweat wells down Sivuyile Vundle’s face as he sits in his wheelchair, navigating the crowded streets of Ngcobo within the Jap Cape. Getting anyplace when utilizing a wheelchair is a tricky activity, so 42-year-old Vundle depends on his cousin, Ludwe, to push him round.
On this present day, the pair made their option to Masonwabe Clinic to gather Vundle’s hypertension medicine. They awoke at 5 o’clock that morning to catch public transport, which comes within the type of a bakkie. This isn’t an easy journey. Some taxi operators are impatient as a result of Vundle takes longer to get right into a taxi and desires help.
“A few of them typically simply cross me. I’ve acquired no alternative however to be affected person till I get transport as a result of I want my medicine,” Vundle says, wiping the sweat from his face with a handkerchief.
Vundle has to make this journey not less than as soon as a month to gather his medicine. It’s a daunting activity, however he has no alternative.
“Residing with a incapacity shouldn’t be a straightforward life in any respect, particularly for us rural dwellers. Navigating potholed rural roads is troublesome. I want the federal government may prioritise us by making certain that we get free transport to the clinic and hospital,” Vundle says.
Exacerbating his state of affairs is the truth that the clinic is about 40 kilometres away and Vundle has to spend about R400 on transport fares each time he wants healthcare.
“Each time I come to the clinic, I’ve to pay double for transport for myself and my cousin,” he tells Well being-e Information.
The urban-rural divide
Having lived in Cape City from 2016 till 2020, Vundle says there’s a large hole by way of take care of individuals residing with disabilities between the 2 provinces.
“I’ve to confess that issues are significantly better within the Western Cape. Individuals residing with disabilities there are supplied with ‘Dial-A- Journey’ transport by the Division of Well being when they should go to healthcare services. Plus, clinics are close by, and one doesn’t have to journey lengthy distances for well being providers,” he says.
Vundle’s frustrations are shared by 51-year-old wheelchair-bound Simphiwe Gwaza from Tsolo.
“Being unable to carry out the smallest duties on my own is painful. However the worst problem for me is visiting the native clinic or hospital each time I get sick,” he says, shaking his head. “As you possibly can see, I’m utilizing this outdated wheelchair with worn-out tyres, and it’s a wrestle to maneuver round.”
A marginalised group
Nosintu Mcimeli is the founding father of the Abanebhongo Individuals with Disabilities Organisation primarily based in Ngqamakwe within the Jap Cape. She tells Well being-e Information that inclusion and well being care facility accessibility stay a significant downside for individuals residing with disabilities.
“It’s nonetheless robust, particularly right here in deep rural villages, as a result of even leaving the home to alleviate your self is a wrestle. Many people (individuals with incapacity) are bedridden as they’re badly bodily disabled,” she says.
“Mobility help is missing. The worst factor is that the individuals who often assist them get to a clinic reside distant. Think about an individual residing with incapacity residing alone and struggling a coronary heart assault, they usually can’t even get away from bed to get to the wheelchair and go search for assist?”
Mcimeli says regardless that healthcare is free, individuals residing with incapacity need to dig deep into their already confused incapacity grants to rent particular automobiles as there aren’t any automobiles and areas within the bakkies generally used as public transport.
The federal government, she says, has turned a blind eye to the plight of individuals residing with incapacity.
Gwaza agrees with Mcimeli. “Individuals with disabilities have the identical rights as everybody else and we’re demanding equal therapy from our authorities. It can’t be that it’s only in massive cities like Cape City and Johannesburg the place the rights of individuals residing with disabilities are revered,” he says. “Within the rural areas we’re handled like nobodies and are going through discrimination day by day.”
Potential options
Gwaza says it could assist if the federal government launched transport for individuals with disabilities from their houses each time they want medical consideration.
“I actually don’t suppose that’s an excessive amount of to ask for. Our authorities has all these assets. However I generally really feel they simply don’t have our pursuits at coronary heart. We as individuals residing with disabilities are a forgotten group,” Gwaza says. “Sure, they do present incapacity grants however the cash goes in direction of many different wants reminiscent of meals, clothes and transport. All we’re asking for is being assisted in attending to healthcare services.”
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Vundle says native authorities should be proactive in making certain service supply for these with disabilities.
“For one, I consider each native ward councillor must make it a degree that they know the variety of disabled individuals of their ward. Then, each time now we have healthcare wants, we might be supplied a automobile to get to a neighborhood healthcare facility. We do increase these considerations at imbizos, however sadly, it’s all the time empty guarantees,” he says.
The Jap Cape well being division didn’t reply to our queries. – Well being-e Information
