An Eastern Cape hospital has been without water for more than three weeks, forcing doctors and nurses, and even patients, to haul 20-litre buckets of water from tanks outside the building so that they can wash and flush toilets.
The stench and unhygienic conditions at All Saints Hospital in Ngcobo have become unbearable, reports TimesLIVE, but one employee said despite the crisis, the facility has continued to admit patients.
The appalling conditions are compromising both hygiene and patient safety, she added, and dirty linen was having to be transported to Mjanyana Hospital, about an hour away.
One nurse said the situation has demoralised staff who are trained to treat patients, not fetch and carry water.
“We are trying our best for the patients, but it’s heartbreaking to see sick people carrying buckets just to get basic water,” she said. “Even though we have JoJo tanks, once they run dry, we’re forced to ask the local community for water.”
Recurring problem
Staff said this is not an isolated incident, and that water shortages have plagued All Saints Hospital for years.
Eastern Cape Health Department spokesperson Siyanda Manana confirmed the current crisis began last month after the hospital’s water pumps were damaged and vandalised.
He said the department has battled issues of theft and damage to pumps since 2022. Previously the hospital sourced its own water from the Xuka River using two pumps, one of which was stolen while the other became blocked with sand.
Manana said the latest problem was reported immediately through the department’s call centre, prompting an emergency response.
“A work order was issued to an approved service provider to provide emergency water carting. A total of 50 000 litres of water was requested for delivery, with the first 10 000 litres delivered on the same day.”
Another 10 000 litres were delivered on 26 October, with the remaining 30 000 litres to be supplied as needed.
Emergency measures under way
Manana said the department had activated emergency procurement to install two deep well submersible pumps in a duty/standby configuration to ensure a continuous water supply.
“The upgraded system will include stainless steel deep well submersible pumps, dry-run, surge and overload protection mechanisms, and an automatic control panel to maintain a steady supply and reduce future downtime,” he said.
Meanwhile, water carting and JoJo tank refills will continue to sustain hospital operations.
Despite the challenges, Manana said patient care has “remained partially uninterrupted”.
“Only dental services were temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure, but have since resumed. All critical clinical areas continue to operate safely with available water reserves,” he said.
Long-term fix
To ensure long-term water security at the hospital, the department will be:
• Replacing the damaged pumps and installing backup boreholes; and
• Introducing security measures, including CCTV around the pump station and regular system backwashing, to prevent future vandalism and protect infrastructure.
TimesLIVE article – All Saints Hospital has been without water for three weeks (Restricted access)
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Patients suffer as hospitals battle bed shortages, power and water cuts
Doctors urge crisis management as Eastern Cape Hospitals collapse
Broken X-ray machine and no water for five years at Limpopo hospital