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No CoronaVirus resources: Government prioritize police clinics over public hospitals

Friday, 6th March, 2020

MBABANE:Government has been prioritizing the lives of police officers than those of ordinary citizens by making sure drugs are available in police clinics while the various public hospitals around the country run out of medical equipment.

This disclosure comes in the midst of concerns from members of the public that the country does not have resources to fight the spread of the CoronaVirus as a first suspected case has been confirmed in South Africa by Health Minister Zweli Mkhize.

Responding to questions from this publication, Acting Government Spokesperson Sabelo Dlamini said members of the public were free to visit the police clinics to access health services as the organization does not discriminate anyone.

“To the best of my knowledge police clinics do not discriminate, and the general public has access to their services. However, you may need to contact them to confirm” said the Government Spokesperson. 

It has been disclosed that these police clinics are situated in Mbabane and Ngonini among others but only members of the public from the surrounding areas are allowed to seek medication treatment from these health institutions. This was also confirmed by National Police Commissioner William Dlamini during an interview with the National Radio shortly after the Mbabane Clinic was officially opened by the United States Embassy Lisa Peterson last year.

“This is a clinic that will assist police officers and members of the public from the surrounding areas. The nature of policing expose officers to health risks and we are grateful to government who built this clinic with the assistance of the US Government,” said the National Commissioner.

A questionnaire was sent to Police Spokesperson Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, however, she had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

Sikelela Dlamini,the Secretary General of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers(SNAT) said the State was prioritizing security forces because they protect the interest of government.

“Government priority is on the armed forces and the reason is simple, it is because they protect her interests in so many ways. Government is trying to appease the security forces so that when we, civil servants fight for our rights, these forces are sent to brutalize and kill the workers. Voices of the dissent are violently suppressed in this country. 

The SNAT Secretary General said it was likely that the stock of CoronaVirus equipment might be supplied to the security forces health centres with the public hospitals ignored.

“The objective of the government is to make the poor perish, for the elite to live” he said. 

No CoronaVirus resources: Government prioritize police clinics over public hospitals
National Commissioner of Police William Dlamini