Central SA
Lesotho border lab employees overworked─── 13:00 Mon, 04 Jan 2021
Free State Health MEC Montseng Tsiu made her way to the Lesotho border yesterday due to numerous outcries for help from the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) employees conducting COVID-19 tests.
Tsiu explains that the South African national laboratory is overflowing with Lesotho citizens who, often, cross into South Africa illegally.
She adds that this is due to the cost of COVID-19 tests being unaffordable in Maseru.
Additionally, Tsiu says that due to the influx of people at the border employees are extremely overwhelmed and unsure of how to proceed.
A decision was made that both the MEC of Health for Lesotho and Free State and their teams should meet to determine the way forward.
Tsiu encouraged the Lesotho Government to ensure that there are separations at the testing centres in place for those who have and have not tested for COVID-19.
Finally, she states that with the Lesotho Governments’ cooperation, this situation is manageable.
OFM News/Lee Simmons
