The extension of the lockdown period to “flatten the curve” of the spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19, epidemic in South Africa, makes it more urgent to improve healthcare services for the street-based people who have been piled into mass tented accommodation.
The current situation, where 2,000 people found on the street, were corralled into a crowded space at the Strandfontein Sports Grounds has increased their stress and exposure to risk. The site was ill-prepared with inadequate plumbing, ventilation, healthcare services or educational measures to ensure residents can take the preventative measures recommended by authorities. The reality is that street-based people are more likely to have substance dependency issues, mental health and behavioural challenges. They are also more susceptible to contracting diseases and suffering more severe consequences than the general population. The absence of the psycho-social services and the lack of access to drugs they are dependent on will further destabilise this vulnerable group.
The South African Network of People Who Use Drugs (SANPUD) have secured funding from the International Drug Policy Consortium through their Support. Don’t Punish initiative to provide relief healthcare services for street-based people who use drugs to mitigate the impact of the withdrawal symptoms from the daily use of alcohol, heroin (nyaope, unga, whoonga) on their health. For a few days a SANPUD team of professionals, including a medical doctor, were able to provide essential services at the Strandfontein Sports Grounds, but on Wednesday were suddenly refused access to the site.
“It is a gross violation of international rights commitments and the constitution to allow people to suffer when there are ways to resolve their suffering. We have the professional staff who are ready to assist when and where needed. I struggle to understand why we are being refused access.” Shaun Shelly, chair of SANPUD.
The national approach to street-based people with substance dependency has mostly been characterised by general neglect. The only message seems to be being preached to about abstaining from drugs or seeking recovery. The lack of proper planning for adequate access to healthcare services in the areas to where they have been moved can only be observed as more evidence of this.
“There has been limited medical and psycho-social support for PWUD at the secure sites established by the City of Cape Town. During the first week, it was only Catherine Williams and me present at the Culemborg site to provide any form of assistance. Our presence was also only intermittent. During the initial period at Strandfontein, the lack of medical support continued. Again, we managed to provide what assistance we could, this time with support from Dr John Wulz, Julie MacDonell and Jesse Laitinen. Despite our best efforts, I have had to concede that many friends and clients are currently suffering through the excruciating experience of opioid withdrawal, and will continue to unless urgent and effective medical support is provided,” MJ Stowe, the national advocacy & region coordinator for SANPUD laments.
Some of the withdrawal symptoms, which are awful and difficult to manage, are diarrhoea, stomach aches, body aches, and vomiting. SANPUD procured the medication to relieve these symptoms, and they were then prescribed by a doctor. The psycho-social services that the SANPUD and similar organisations have been providing to street-based people are more needed now as they find themselves removed from their familiar surroundings. However, now that the SANPUD team has been refused access to the grounds, they are unable to provide these essential resources and services.
Issued by Phumlani Malinga for SANPUD