The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, invites the media as he promotes the message of health and safety over the holiday season at the Mariannhill Toll plaza (tomorrow 21 December 2010) “Road accidents, violence, Alcohol and illicit drugs are harming thousands of people in many ways over the festive season. As we focus on those who pass on and the injured; we forget the many more whose lives are changed and disabled following road accidents or violent assaults.
Others because of their indulgence in alcohol and drugs become dependent on such
substances causing a range of other health problems, such as injuries, cardiovascular diseases, unwanted pregnancies, HIV and/or sexually transmitted infections," says Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, MEC for Health in KwaZulu-Natal.
The department will display its fleet of emergency vehicles and helicopters that are deployed through out the province to provide emergency care. The MEC will be reminding citizens and visitors to dial the toll free 10177 numbers whenever they need emergency care.
The MEC will there after visit two hospitals (Prince Mshiyeni and Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospitals) to check on progress in the delivery of maternity care services and to also convey gratitude to workers who worked tirelessly during the public service strike at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital.
“It has become unacceptable for government to fail to answer the question: why do you lag so far behind in rates of maternal and infant mortality? Issues of maternal mortality need urgent action if we are to reverse the negative image of women and newborns dying,” the MEC said. “We want to see the day that the fact that you are pregnant should not be a death warrant. That women in KwaZulu-Natal will be placed in the same situation as women in the developed world.
That children in KwaZulu-Natal will also live in a province fit for children." He explained that it is for the reason that he will continue to conduct visits to various hospitals to check on progress in this maternal care services, in particular. The two hospitals, Mahatma Gandhi and Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospitals deliver the highest number of babies (more than a thousand a month) in the province.
While at Mahatma Gandhi the MEC will address the media on his observations, convey the department’s gratitude to three particular workers who worked throughout the tense public service strike at the hospital and also release a statement following the Finance Minister’s acclamation of the department for good financial turn around.
The details of the events are as follows;
Date: Tuesday, 21 December 2010
Time: 08h30
Venues: Mariannhill Toll Plaza (08h30)
Mahatma Gandhi Hospital and hand over of letters of appreciation (10h30)
Prince Mshiyeni (14h00)
Enquries:
Chris Maxon
Cell: 083 447 2869
Province
