Elim Hospital in Limpopo is currently facing a severe water shortage, plunging patients and medical staff into dire conditions.
Water woes at the hospital began in early 2019 when two boreholes drilled to supply the hospital with water dried up and could no longer pump water.
A makeshift borehole was drilled outside the hospital, but it also failed to pump enough water.
The Limpopo Department of Health says the hospital is currently solely dependent on municipal water tankers from the Vhembe district municipality (VDM).
Department Spokesperson Neil Shikwambana says the National Department of Water and Sanitation has sent officials to assess the situation and pave a way forward.
“The situation remains critical as the bulk supply is completely constrained. To find permanent and lasting solutions, the Minister of Water Affairs Senzo Mchunu has already sent a team of senior officials to meet with the Vhembe District Municipality which is the Water Services Authority,” said Shikwambana
The World Health Organisation recommends that between 50 and 100 litres of water per person per day are needed to ensure that most basic needs are met and to limit health concerns.