20 June 2006
Premier Dipuo Peters will host a fundraising breakfast for the SA Red Cross
Air Mercy Service. This is in celebration of their 10th anniversary in the
Northern Cape and also the 14th birthday of the Air Mercy Service (AMS).
AMS continues to be a proud partner of the Northern Cape Provincial
government in flying healthcare specialists to outlying areas from Sutherland
in the south to Rietfontein in the north.
"Being able to see after having a cataract operation is one of the many life
changing services that we have been able to bring to disadvantaged patients in
remote areas. Patients don't have to leave their own community and travel
hundreds of kilometres for specialist treatment. Instead the outreach teams fly
to them."
Since 1996, the service has performed 1 677 cataract operations and has been
recognised by the national Department of Health for achieving the best cataract
surgery rate of all the provinces in 2003/4.
The service has brought healthcare to more than 150 000 patients has
dispensed 24 400 spectacles, performed 59 911 teeth extractions and held 14 366
orthopaedic, 12 378 psychiatrist and 10 918 surgical consultations over the
past 10 years.
In 1999 the service was awarded the Impumelelo Innovations Award, which
'recognises innovations in government and public private partnerships (PPP)
that reduce poverty and address key developmental issues of national
concern.'
The service flies paediatricians, physicians, orthopaedic surgeons,
surgeons, anaesthetists, oncologists, a maxillo facial surgeon and
psychiatrists on a regular basis to Calvinia, Springbok, Upington, De Aar,
Kuruman and Jan Kempdorp. Ophthalmology services are held in Barkley-West, De
Aar, Upington, Calvinia, Prieska and Postmasburg.
Last year the service grew to include elective patient transfers to
Kimberley Hospital Complex for patients from the Namaqua District. A dedicated
air ambulance service is on stand by for medical emergencies across the
province.
The AMS recently moved into their own hangar at Kimberley Airport which was
partially funded by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund and ExecuJet
SA.
Details are as follows:
Date: Thursday, 22 June 2006
Venue: Ekhaya Guesthouse
Time: 8h00
Contact:
Zodwa Thebeyapelo
Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 083 255 8849
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Northern Cape Provincial Government
20 June 2006
