Clinics in Crisis

Often people start queueing outside clinic gates as early as 4am, only to wait all day, and in some cases never be seen. They get to the clinic, only to be sent home empty-handed without the medicines they need. Nurses are overworked and under-resourced. They shout at people. Doctors are scarce. People wait in overcrowded waiting rooms — or sit outside without shade or seats, even the elderly or sick. When they eventually get seen, in some clinics there is no privacy and other people can see or hear their consultations.

People who are late for appointments are sent to the back of the queue. Staff are openly hostile to people who use drugs, sex workers, and LGBTQIA+ communities — sometimes refusing people any services. Buildings are old and falling apart, with dirty or pit latrine toilets. Equipment is missing or broken. Files take hours to find or go missing altogether. People get TB because no one checks for TB symptoms or gives out masks to those coughing. The clinic committees that people rely on to solve these problems either don’t exist or don’t know what they should do. Our clinics are in crisis.