Taxi Strikes impose on clinic operations

Jane Levinson, Project Manager - Both Wednesday and Thurday mornings were rather chaotic at clinic. Two out of seven staff members from Khayelitsha, could not get transport to clinic.

We all got stuck into cleaning cages and walking the dogs in hospital. With news reports in the background of violence in the township, it was difficult for the team to decide whether it was safe for our volunteer vet from the UK, Dr George Lightfoot and Dr Theron to come and work at clinic. Dr Lightfoot came anyway and performed all the surgeries on Wednesday. Initial news reports on Thursday morning were very discouraging. It did not seem like a good idea for either vet or visitors to come to clinic. Most of the sterlisations and emergency operations were taken through to Dr Theron’s practice in Kuils River. Later that morning, after many phone calls, our original arrangements were reinstated. George was roped into doing three sterlisations before going off to take his trip to Robben Island that he booked that morning.

Having one driver was a logistical nightmare in terms of collecting and delivering sterlisations and fetching sick pets. Mobile clinics started later than usual. With many people unable to go to work, the mobiles were inundated by pet owners.

Today everyone breathed a sigh of relief that there was no surgery to contend with after such a difficult week.