THE logistical chaos in the department of health in Limpopo has come to haunt its operations, with the ICU at Nkhensani Hospital in Giyani dysfunctional as a power failure hit the hospital.
The lives of patients were at stake at the weekend after a power supply disruption, while the back-up generator was also not working.
According to the department the power supply was disrupted due to a thunderstorm at the weekend.
Sources at the hospital have blamed poor maintenance of the hospital's facilities as a contributing factor to the electricity crisis.
Electricity went off on Thursday, leaving the hospital in darkness. This also affected the mortuary and other vital services as officials resorted to using candles.
A source at the hospital who asked to remain anonymous said: "Patients were calling for help but there was nothing we could do. We only tried to help those at the ICU and surgical wards."
Spokesperson for the department Selby Makgotho claimed electricity failed on Saturday and that the situation was brought under control. He said the generator had a problem but was subsequently fixed.
"We have measures in place, including transferring some patients to neighbouring hospitals," he said.
Hospital left in darkness
THE logistical chaos in the department of health in Limpopo has come to haunt its operations, with the ICU at Nkhensani Hospital in Giyani dysfunctional as a power failure hit the hospital.
The lives of patients were at stake at the weekend after a power supply disruption, while the back-up generator was also not working.
According to the department the power supply was disrupted due to a thunderstorm at the weekend.
Sources at the hospital have blamed poor maintenance of the hospital's facilities as a contributing factor to the electricity crisis.
Electricity went off on Thursday, leaving the hospital in darkness. This also affected the mortuary and other vital services as officials resorted to using candles.
A source at the hospital who asked to remain anonymous said: "Patients were calling for help but there was nothing we could do. We only tried to help those at the ICU and surgical wards."
Spokesperson for the department Selby Makgotho claimed electricity failed on Saturday and that the situation was brought under control. He said the generator had a problem but was subsequently fixed.
"We have measures in place, including transferring some patients to neighbouring hospitals," he said.