National EMS gets over 1500 ambulances for the festive season
The ambulances will be complemented by private sector ones as part of existing service level agreements entered with provinces to beef up EMS.
The National Department of Health has intensified Emergency Medical Services (EMS) with over 1500 ambulances during the festive season.
According to the department, in a statement, the 1540 ambulances will be deployed across the country`s major routes, strategic points, and hotspots. Department spokesperson Foster Mohale said it is to accelerate a turnaround time for emergency medical response during the festive season, where there is a high demand for emergency medical services.
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PRIVATE SECTOR AMBULANCES TO ASSIST ON MAJOR ROUTES
Mohale said in the statement that the 1540 ambulances will be complemented by private sector ambulances as part of existing service level agreements entered with provinces to beef up EMS to ensure quick response to major accidents and prevent avoidable loss of lives.
“Some of the major routes to be prioritised in provinces include Eastern Cape (N2, N10, R61, R72); Free State (N1, N3, N5, N6, N8); Gauteng (N1, N3, N4, N12, N17, R21, R59, R101); KwaZulu-Natal ( N2, N3, R56); Limpopo (N1, N11, R36, R37, R71, R101, R518, R524, R528, R579); Mpumalanga (N2, N3, N4, N11, N12, N17, R23, R38, R40, R573); North West (N4, N14, N12, N18, R30); Northern Cape (N1, N7, N8, N10, N12, N14, N18, R31, R382); and Western Cape (N1, N2, N7, R27, R62),” he indicated.
Mohale has also appealed to communities to join hands with government and law enforcement agencies during this period to create an enabling environment for frontline healthcare workers, especially nurses and paramedics to perform their life-saving duties freely without fear of both verbal and physical violence and aggression.
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VIOLENCE AGAINST EMS WORKERS UNACCEPTABLE
Meanwhile, health workers have fallen victim to violence and crime in the line of duty. Mohale explained that it happened over the months and recent years in the country and that this can only be stopped if communities become protectors rather than bystanders.
“Violence against health workers is unacceptable because it does not only negatively impact on their psychological and physical well-being, but also affects their job motivation and has the potential to compromise the quality of care and puts health-care provision at risk.
“The World Health Organization (WHO) defines attacks against health care as any act of verbal or physical violence or obstruction or threat of violence that interferes with the availability, access and delivery of curative and/or preventive health services during emergencies,” Mohale added.
He further added that emergency medical personnel play an essential role in the health system by providing timely and appropriate medical care to patients in need.
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HEALTH FACILITIES TO REMAIN OPEN DURING THE FESTIVE SEASON
Mohale explained that some of the associated risks during the festive season include vehicle accidents, domestic violence, alcohol and substance abuse, and drowning.
“All health facilities will remain open to enable South Africans to access health services.
“In a life-threatening emergency, people are reminded to dial 112 from a landline or cellular phone and be aware that the call centre agents will ask questions to enable them to dispatch an ambulance accordingly,” he said.
In a statement, Mohale said the following important details will be obtained from you, your name, phone number, address, nearest landmark and the current medical status of the patient.
“Ensure that you get a call reference number before the end of the call to be used when you follow up on the progress of the call.
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