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The Eastern Cape Health Department said six healthcare facilities in Kariega have been left in the dark following the theft of cables.
And, according to the Department, the two suspected thieves also suffered serious burns from the incident and were ironically treated at one of the facilities affected by their actions.
Health Department spokesperson, Siyanda Manana, said Laetitia Bam Community Heatlh Centre, where the men were treated, was the hardest hit by Tuesday theft.
He said the outage damaged crucial equipment like X-ray and suction machines, among others, while electronic patients’ files cannot be accessed.
Manana said vaccines were also being stored the provincial hospital in Kariega, while patients were being ferried to clinics in other areas.
He also noted that they have been using a backup generator at Laetitia Bam clinic since a municipal transformer became faulty on 14 February.
“A technician is on site working on the generator. Should the generator not be fixable, other arrangements will be made to ensure services are restored.
We are hoping the generator will be fixed soon so that it can continue providing power until power is restored.
Meanwhile, the suspects who allegedly stole the electricity cables suffered serious burns.
They were initially treated at the same Laetitia Bam CHC they are suspected of sabotaging before they were transferred to higher level of care because of the extent of their burn wounds.
