Bottlebrush
Bottlebrush, a slum, is located in Durban, the third largest city in South Africa. It is right next to a modern shopping mall spread out over the hills in an area of about one and a half square kilometers. There are approximately 14.000 inhabitants in Bottlebrush of which 4000-6000 are children (age 0-12). Most people in the area are Zulu and there are a few people of Zimbabwean and Congolese origin as well. Most of the foreigners aren’t welcome for longer periods of time. Alcohol, drugs and crime are a big problem for the men in the area. For food, most kids are depending on a food program, organized by ‘the Good News Centre’, a local church.
Medical situation
There is a huge need for good medical care in Bottlebrush. Approximately 50 percent of the children is infected by HIV/AIDS and there is not enough medical care available for them to receive the treatment they need. There is a noticeable correlation between the lack of basic medical care, mother and childcare, and hygiene. An example of this is the lack of shoes: many children walk around on their bare feet in the area. There are sharp rocks and glass on the ground, which cause many children to hurt themselves. If these children don’t get treated properly, their wounds will get infected and they are even more likely to get infected with HIV/AIDS. There are many teen pregnancies in Bottlebrush. Babies often die shortly after they are born because of poor hygiene, lack of food, and because their mothers simply don’t know how to take care of them. There are no doctors and nurses in Bottlebrush. If there is an emergency, the people can go to a public hospital but all they get there are enormous line-ups and poor medical treatment.
Medical care?
When Bottlebrush resident has to go to the public hospital he will have to get in line first. This usually takes hours. When he finally gets through the line up a nurse will decide if the patient can see a doctor. If the doctor prescribes medication the people can get them for free at the public hospital, however.. most people don’t even get to see the doctor, even when its really necessary.
While playing outside with his friends a young boy living in Bottlebrush stepped on a broken umbrella which was lying on the side of the road. An umbrella rib got stuck into his foot and broke off. The boy got taken to the hospital and had to wait for hours. When he finally got to see a nurse she refused to let him see the doctor. She simply prescribed some painkiller pills and let the boy go. When the boy got home his mother pulled the umbrella rib out of his foot. The wound got infected and, because the boy received no medical treatment, he died. A few days later his mother passed away as well. She had AIDS…
Bottlebrush, a slum, is located in Durban, the third largest city in South Africa. It is right next to a modern shopping mall spread out over the hills in an area of about one and a half square kilometers. There are approximately 14.000 inhabitants in Bottlebrush of which 4000-6000 are children (age 0-12). Most people in the area are Zulu and there are a few people of Zimbabwean and Congolese origin as well. Most of the foreigners aren’t welcome for longer periods of time. Alcohol, drugs and crime are a big problem for the men in the area. For food, most kids are depending on a food program, organized by ‘the Good News Centre’, a local church.
Medical situation
There is a huge need for good medical care in Bottlebrush. Approximately 50 percent of the children is infected by HIV/AIDS and there is not enough medical care available for them to receive the treatment they need. There is a noticeable correlation between the lack of basic medical care, mother and childcare, and hygiene. An example of this is the lack of shoes: many children walk around on their bare feet in the area. There are sharp rocks and glass on the ground, which cause many children to hurt themselves. If these children don’t get treated properly, their wounds will get infected and they are even more likely to get infected with HIV/AIDS. There are many teen pregnancies in Bottlebrush. Babies often die shortly after they are born because of poor hygiene, lack of food, and because their mothers simply don’t know how to take care of them. There are no doctors and nurses in Bottlebrush. If there is an emergency, the people can go to a public hospital but all they get there are enormous line-ups and poor medical treatment.
Medical care?
When Bottlebrush resident has to go to the public hospital he will have to get in line first. This usually takes hours. When he finally gets through the line up a nurse will decide if the patient can see a doctor. If the doctor prescribes medication the people can get them for free at the public hospital, however.. most people don’t even get to see the doctor, even when its really necessary.
While playing outside with his friends a young boy living in Bottlebrush stepped on a broken umbrella which was lying on the side of the road. An umbrella rib got stuck into his foot and broke off. The boy got taken to the hospital and had to wait for hours. When he finally got to see a nurse she refused to let him see the doctor. She simply prescribed some painkiller pills and let the boy go. When the boy got home his mother pulled the umbrella rib out of his foot. The wound got infected and, because the boy received no medical treatment, he died. A few days later his mother passed away as well. She had AIDS…