On Sunday, 18 December 2011, Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Gwendoline Ramokgopa, will lead a team comprising of politicians, senior government officials and paramedics in showcasing and assessing the state of preparedness by health facilities in handling potential road accidents which may lead to trauma and injuries.
Dr Ramokgopa and the team will first, in the morning, visit communities living adjacent the notorious Moloto road (R 573) accidents hotspots to distribute road accident first aid kits which can be used to save lives in the event of road accidents. This will precede basic emergency medical training to community members by health department medical services experts.
This comes after a discovery by the department that when road accidents occur, these communities are always the first ones to arrive at accident scenes and often watch injured people die in their faces hence they have no emergency medical equipment to use in saving lives. According to road accident statistics, the Moloto road dubbed the “killer road” is leading in the country with highest vehicle accidents.
The entourage will then proceed to Steve Biko Academic hospital in Tshwane where they will assess the state of readiness for the hospital’s emergency casualty centre. That is where accident victims in critical conditions within Tshwane will be referred and treated during the festive season.
With the additional allocation of medical services vehicles and staff countrywide, Dr Ramokgopa is expected to announce the amplified coverage of major routes as well as the number of staff who will be working to respond to the medical emergencies throughout the country.
Media reporters are therefore invited to these activities scheduled as follows:
Event Name: Distribution of First Aid kit at Moloto Road communities
Date: Sunday, 18 December 2011
Venue: Moloto Road (R 573), Border of Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces
Time: 08h30 – 10h00
Event Name: Assessment of trauma and emergency medical services centres
Date: Sunday, 18 December 2011
Venue: Tshwane, Steve Biko Hospital
Time: 11h00 – 12h30
For more information:
Vukani Mnyandu
Cell: 083 923 0261
