TLC CUTS OUTPATIENT SERVICES TO 3 DAYS PER WEEK

MANZINI - To address the current challenges at TLC, the health facility will now limit outpatient services to three days per week and defer senior management salaries at the Miracle Campus.

This came into effect today, as announced by the health facility through a press release. Previously, the Miracle Campus operated 24/7 throughout the year for outpatient services. In addition, it was revealed that for the first time in its history, for October payroll, The Luke Commission (TLC) will defer salaries for senior management to ensure junior staff received their salaries. TLC Deputy Managing Executive Winile Simelane apologised, stating that circumstances had forced them to take these decisions. “It is heartbreaking and heart-wrenching for us to disappoint our patients and staff. Resource constraints in light of ever-increasing patient volumes led to the very difficult decision to limit services and defer paying salaries. “Over the past 12 months, TLC hosted over 300 000 patient visits,” Simelane disclosed.

She reiterated that no hospital should have to make the painful decision to turn away patients, as access to healthcare was a basic human right. “Until the financial picture improves, the Miracle Campus will provide outpatient services on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays only. Outpatient services at the Miracle Campus will also be available on the first and third Saturday of the month, as well as the second Sunday of each month,” she announced. The scaledown at the Miracle Campus follows a reduced schedule for Matsapha Mobile Clinic, announced last week. Matsapha Clinic is now open for services on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only.

Meanwhile, TLC Director of Operations Mbongiseni Tsela said it was painful to have to say no to any patient. “I have worked with TLC for over 10 years and this is something we have never done before. It clashes with our desire, which is to treat every last one just as we would our own family member - with love, kindness and compassion,” he shared. Tsela highlighted that the hallmark of TLC had never been to turn away any patient in the queue who required services.

Express

“Our life has consisted of saying yes. For TLC, treating every last one is how we express ubuntu. It’s this spirit that is needed in every sector across the globe,” said Tsela. He further expressed hope of the financial situation normalising in the coming months. However, he pointed out that without an equitable allocation of resources earmarked for healthcare in Eswatini, it was quite impossible for them to continue operating at the levels they had been operating. Simelane said the dramatic downscaling of the organisation’s services followed a formal resolution from TLC’s board of directors to limit programming to only those activities with dedicated funding. He mentioned that senior management had demonstrated courageous relationship in putting others before themselves, voluntarily choosing to have their salaries deferred so that junior staff could receive full pay. “The TLC team of over 700 people is so committed and serves from the heart. They have served humbly through the pandemics of HIV and COVID-19, through civil unrest, and through so many challenges. We want to do everything we can to retain as many staff as we can for as long as we can,” Simelane said.

He elaborated that they trusted that God would help them and provide as he had, over the past two decades. He also stated that they had never turned away patients, and they had never paid staff salaries late, adding that both decisions were devastating to consider. Simelane said the organisation was currently establishing operating schedules week by week, and that updates would be provided to existing patients via SMS and to the nation via social media, and through the media houses. He noted that TLC’s health hotline remained open 24/7 on 7613 8814.

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