Prince Mshiyeni hospital without water for week
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health says contingency plans are in place to minimise the disruption to health services at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital which hasn't had water since last Thursday.
A pipe near the Glebelands Hostel burst, affecting V-section in Umlazi, south of Durban.
The hostel, shopping centre uMlazi Mega City, and residents are affected.
The department's Mdu Ncalane says they've supplied patients and staff with five-litres of bottled water.
He says the hospital's reservoirs are being filled every day by tankers.
"Thirty JoJo tanks are currently being installed in strategic positions of the hospital, as was the case during the April floods, and this project will be finished by later this evening."
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"A water tanker from the eThekwini Municipality is stationed full time in the hospital and providing water. Thirty mobile toilets have been hired and are being used to support sanitation services."
Ncalane says the hospital is coping with outpatient bookings, while those in need of orthopaedic care are being taken to RK Khan or Addington hospitals.
"On the clinical services part, other surrounding facialites have been activated to assist where necessary. Laundry and catering services are originally outsourced services."
eThekwini says its engineers have been working to trace and expose the burst pipe which is embedded in a bridge on Griffiths Mxenge Highway.
They hope to begin repairs soon.
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