Amidst the unrest which badly disrupted the provision of healthcare in many areas, Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital was one of the lucky Gauteng metros left unscathed.
The hospital’s Acting CEO Dr Keneilwe Letebele said that protests did not extend as far as Ga-Rankuwa, north of Pretoria, which left the healthcare facility untouched by the violence and looting.
“Up until now, our hospital has not been adversely affected, possibly because there were not much protest marches happening in our vicinity,” said Dr Letebele.
Being out of the thick of the protests let the hospital remain focussed on dealing with COVID cases. Lessons they had learnt from the first two waves had helped them mitigate the high number of fatalities in the third waves.
“The situation is quite challenging but we have learnt some valuable lessons from the first and second wave experiences regardless of some differences.
“These lessons have helped us to adapt to the situation. What is important is that when the first wave engulfed us, it was a first experience for everyone but now we know what to expect and how to address some challenges,” she said.
Dr Letebele noted that they have 60 additional beds at their newly-built Alternative Building Technology (ABT) unit, which adds to the existing 280 beds dedicated to COVID.
However, the high number of healthcare workers testing positive for COVID had left them short of staff.
“Capacity is reduced due to staff being COVID positive. However, the department has increased the number of staff to manage the surge (in cases),” she said.
Meanwhile, Vuyo Mhaga, the spokesperson for Gauteng Premier David Makhura, said scientists have warned that although COVID numbers were beginning to fall in the province, it was not enough – and it might even reverse given current events.
“The province is concerned that there might be a change in the downward trajectory of new infections due to recent protest action.
“Daily new infections remain very high. Some of those infected do require hospital care. These protests might cause the province to take longer to flatten the curve,” said Mhaga.
Meanwhile, health bodies including the South African African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) have issued a joint statement warning against using looted medications.
“We would like to urge the public not to utilise any medicines that are not accessed through authorised health care institutions. You may report such illegal activity to SAHPRA or to law enforcement agencies,” the medical bodies said.
They also said that looting and violence from the unrest only worsened the COVID pandemic and set back the provision of equitable healthcare.
“We appeal to citizens looting and destroying the healthcare infrastructure and disrupting the provision of health care to consider the long-term consequences of their actions on the health of communities.
“Without health care services, the requisite medicines and vaccines, we will have unnecessary deaths and cause further pandemonium, including severe damage to the economy,” the bodies said.
Source: IOL
