By Zweli Martin Dlamini

DVOKOLWAKO: Gogo Simelane, an elderly woman suffering from a diabetic illness said she was told by Dvokolwako health workers to buy medication at a Pharmacy because there was none within the health facility.

Eswatini, a tiny Kingdom ruled by King Mswati, one of richest absolute Monarchies in the world is in the  midst of a health crisis after the government failed to pay suppliers resulting to the shortage of drugs in the various hospitals.

Speaking during the current affairs program on Swaziland News audio channel, Gogo Simelane confirmed that Dvokolwako health workers advised her to buy the diabetic medication from a Pharmacy.

“It’s true, I went to Dvokolwako hospital on the 14th last month(January), there was no diabetic medication and the health workers advised me to buy from the Pharmacy.  It’s a dangerous situation for me because I was advised by health practitioners to take the medication everyday,”she said.

Dr Vusi Magagula, the Director of Health within the Ministry of Health recently told the court that there was no health crisis or shortage of medication in the country, this was during a court case where nurses were trying to force government to provide drugs in hospitals.

Magagula later avoided questions when this publication tried to reach him to respond on the shortage of medication at Dvokolwako hospital.

Reached for comments, Bheki Mamba, the President of the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union(SWADNU) confirmed that the country was faced with a health crisis that resulted to the shortage of medication, he urged government to fulfil her social  obligation and provide working equipment and drugs in hospitals.

“As a union, we have been consistently warning that the situation in the various hospitals was getting worse due to the non-availability of drugs and other working equipment. We call upon government to fulfil her social obligations and provide medication and working equipment, these are taxpayers who deserve access to health-care” ,said the nurses union President.