Dozens of Healthcare Facilities Damaged in KZN Floods
The floods which have inundated KwaZulu-Natal this week and prompted the declaration of a national state of disaster, have damaged at least 58 healthcare facilities. So far, the floods have claimed the lives of 443 people, with 63 still missing.
Damage has been sustained to the roofs, floors and fencing of healthcare facilties, the KwaZulu-Natal health department said. Water shortages from infrastructure damage had forced some hospitals to divert patients elsewhere. Environmental health practitioners are monitoring clinical data for early identification of any waterborne diseases.
Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane said there had been an influx of patients due to the torrential rains.
“We can confirm that our hospitals and clinics have been seeing a higher number of trauma and emergency patients than usual, particularly in the densely populated districts,” she said.
Simelane thanked the courage and dedication of the province’s healthcare workers, noting that many had simply put in extra hours to compensate. Damage to infrastructure such as roads meant that some healthcare workers have had to sleep at the facilities, she noted. Other facilities will try and provide accommodation for them.
To cope with the strain on morgues, KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala said: “We have mobilised additional resources, including seven doctors, to ensure that post mortems are completed speedily, in order to avoid congestion and to enable those who are grieving to bury their loved ones. Our officials are constantly monitoring the situation and sending bodies to those facilities that do have space.”
“All the resources allocated for flood relief and the recovery and rebuilding process will be utilised in line with fiscal rectitude, accountability, transparency and openness. We want to emphasise the fact that, having learnt lessons of Covid-19, no amount of corruption, maladministration and fraud will be tolerated or associated with this province,” Premier Zikalala said.
Source: IOL
