“Let Cupcake See This”: South African in Nigeria Finds No Free Clinic After Falling Sick, SA Stunned

• A woman shared her personal experience in a Nigerian clinic, where she learned that no one, not even locals, received free healthcare
• The video, which was reshared on TikTok by @newsnexussa, sparked a significant and passionate online debate about free healthcare for foreign nationals in SA
• Social media users responded with a mix of shock, agreement, and calls for South Africa's government to change its approach to medical services

A captivating video sparked a heated debate about healthcare policies in a West African country, prompting a strong conversation across online platforms.

The emotional clip, reshared on TikTok by @newsnexussa, was met with considerable controversy from many social media users.

The woman in the video, who arrived in Nigeria a day earlier, explained that she had an allergic reaction that required urgent medical attention. When she arrived at the clinic, she asked if she could be treated for free, under the assumption that clinics in the country operate the same way as public health clinics in Mzansi.

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An unexpected clinic bill

She was, however, told there was no free healthcare and that everyone, including locals, was to pay for their medical services. Shocked to hear this, the woman took to social media to question why some foreign nationals fight for free medical treatment in South Africa when they don't get such services even in their own countries. The woman's experience highlighted the difference in how healthcare systems are run across the continent and the financial expectations placed on citizens.

SA debates about healthcare

The video garnered 446K views, 25K likes, and nearly 1.5K comments from social media users who were engaged in a passionate debate. Many locals were shocked to hear that there was no free healthcare in Nigeria, and questioned the demands of some who live in SA.

Some Nigerian nationals agreed with the woman, confirming that even in their cosmopolitan cities, everyone pays for medical services in clinics and hospitals. Others were inspired by the clip, and they called for President Ramaphosa to see how foreign nationals were demanding things they did not even get in their countries.

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User @User @MaZkhali Jojo@72 said:

"SA is a Banana republic."

User @Charlie commented:

"The continent is not developed, and even the locals in the country do not have access to free healthcare! Everyone pays; it has nothing to do with foreigners. SA has free healthcare coz of development, SA is more advanced than other African countries. #Travel and See."

User @Witskoene said:

"Makes this video go viral, and let Cupcake see this."

User @fidelis🇿🇼 suggested:

"Make people pay a small amount like other hospitals, rather than ban people from getting help."

User @troublemaker shared:

"We work hard for everything. No free houses, or R370. We are not spoiled. We are raised by hard workers. Individuals provide health services to their communities, free education, roads and other amenities. That's why we are great, before your insults.. Since 1997, I have been here in SA. I don't know the look of both your public clinics and hospitals. I have my medical aid, pay my taxes and employed three South Africans for eight years."

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User @User @MISS JABULISIWE KUBHEKA shared:

"Nothing for mahala in Nigeria, sisi. I have friends there😳."

Watch the TikTok video below:

3 Briefly News article about Operation Dududla

• A heavily pregnant Zimbabwean lady was chased away from a local hospital while going in to deliver, after she was asked where she was from.
• A Thembisa woman proudly stood in front of the few patients at their clinic and said that they would continue sending back undocumented foreign nationals from their health care facility.
• Local movement known as Operation Dudula accused the South African Human Rights Commission of favouring undocumented foreigners over South African citizens.

Source: Briefly News