The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo will preside over the pass-over of 85 Intermediate Life Support (ILS) officers to be deployed to beef up the emergency personnel complement in all 10 districts namely Amajuba, eThekwini, Ilembe, Sisonke, Ugu, uMgungundlovu, uMkhanyakude, Uthukela, Uthungulu and Zululand.
The event will be held as follows: Cnr Khan & Bombay Roads, Northdale, Truro Hall, at 09h30 on 17 May. Media is invited.
The department embarked on a programme that involves enrolment of unemployed, enthusiastic youngsters in the province; especially from rural communities, to gain access into the emergency care profession through an internship programme which is aimed at up-skilling these cadre up to a higher level of training.
This is coupled with an intensified effort to increase the emergency fleet as well as to use vehicles suitable for rural terrains. The MEC will also announce the first of its kind internship programme that will increase opportunities for the youth, create jobs and also rejuvenate the emergency services in the Province.
The Emergency Medical and Rescue Services (EMRS) College of Emergency Care is an accredited CPD provider for activities from Basic to Advanced Life Support and via the District training system, refresher and update activities are conducted to ensure that all emergency care providers are up to date with the current clinical practices.
The emergency care profession is one of the most crucial part of the health care system hence it is critical that personnel in this field are adequately trained. The department of health prides itself on the skills impact made by the College of Emergency Care which is second to the Durban University of Technology in terms of producing higher skilled level emergency care providers in the province.
This programme has very encouraging and benefitial to both the public and the department. Young people enrolled in this programme will get quality training, operational experience, an opportunity to up skill to an ILS or ECT level which will ensure that they are easily employable. The up-skilling these recruits will play a vital role of preparing these emergency care providers to further their studies through the professional degree in Emergency Medical care.
