MUCPP Day 2


Today, Susan (the instructor), Yvonne, and I met at 8:30am and drove to the clinic. We had a tour of the clinic where we saw the general waiting room, the occupational therapy room, the TB waiting area, the HIV waiting area, vegetable gardens, and such. There was an overflow of people waiting in each area; the clinic was extremely busy. After touring the clinic, we sat in the van and talked a bit about the health care system in place. Susan informed me of the basic referral system:

1. Small Health Care Clinics 
First, one starts off at the small health care clinics. Mostly nurses work in the health care clinics and they are given an "Essential Medications" list. On this list are the medications that a nurse is able to prescribe without the permission of a doctor.
2. Community Health Centers
If the illness cannot be treated at the small health care clinics one is referred to the community health center (where we were today). There are both doctors and nurses present at these centers.
3. District Hospitals
If the illness cannot be treated at the community health center one is referred to a district hospital, such as the Pelonomi hospital and the National hospital.
4. Universitas Hospital
Finally, if none of these places are able to treat the illness one is referred to Universitas Hospital.

If one follows this system and goes in this order then the health care is free. If one goes out of this order then he or she has to pay (unless they are extremely sick and the nurse or doctor phones the upper level hospitals for the patient).

After having the lecture in the van, we concluded our day and headed back to the University.

The inside of the van. The pamphlets are in English, Afrikaans, and Sotho!