A delegation from the national Department of Health, Local Organising Committee (LOC) and South African Military Health Services (SAMS) conducted an inspection of health and medical facilities in Mpumalanga in preparation for 2010 FIFA World Cup 87 days before kick-off on 13 June 2010.
This is the eight and the last province to be visited since the Deputy Minister of Health Dr Molefi Sefularo started the fact-finding mission on 3 February 2010.
Leading the delegation in the absence of Dr Sefularo who is in Uganda for the third Annual Africa Breast Cancer Conference is the Minister and Deputy Minister’s adviser Dr Confidence Moloko, National 2010 Health Coordinator Mr Pumzile Kedama and LOC Medical Coordinator Dr Victor Ramathesele.
The delegation was received by a large provincial government representatives and five MECs including MEC for Health and Social Development in Mpumalanga Ms Dikeledi Mahlangu, MEC for Sports, Culture and Recreation Mr Vusi Shongwe, MEC for Roads and Transport and Public Works Mr Clifford Mkasi, MEC for Safety and Security and Liaison Ms Sibongile Manana, MEC for Cooperative Government and Traditional Affairs Mr Norman Mokoena and MEC for Education Ms Reginah Mhaule.
The programme started at 09h00 with a presentation by Barberton Hospital CEO Ms Thembani Mokoena on hospital readiness and included the inspection of services in the trauma unit and wards. This was followed by an assessment of the Emergency Medical Centre (EMS) and including viewing some of the 50 new ambulances and other emergency vehicles. The delegation proceeded to Themba Hospital and ended at Mbombela Stadium with an inspection of the VIP medical centre, spectators’ medical centre, players’ medical centre and doping centre room.
On the 8 and 9 February 2010 during a national workshop to review progress on readiness, the Mpumalanga province identified a number of challenges and gaps needing fine-tuning.
A plan with timelines was developed by the workshop to unlock the blockages. A contingency plan for hospitals which included the twinning of services between neighbouring provinces was also recommended. Mpumalanga was twinned with Gauteng, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal.
As a group they were given a task to finalise the following:
* To clarify referral patterns and check them against 2010 specific demands
* To identify gaps within the referral systems in terms of references
* To draw a proposal on how they were going to manage national routes within their proximity
* Patient administration
* Command and control.
To date, 17 March 2010, the province has managed to close some of the gaps with regard to infrastructure and port of entries working together with counterparts in South African Military Health Services (SAMHS). Training of health professionals in relevant 2010 courses have been initiated and well under-way, and about 80 percent of medical equipment have been delivered. The stadium medical rooms are currently being equipped and most the emergency medical vehicles have been delivered.
In Mpumalanga, nine public hospitals and five private hospitals have been designated for FIFA World Cup. They include Rob Ferreira, Themba, Middleburg, Barberton, Witbank, Nelspruit CHC and Evander public hospitals.
The private sector has identified Nelspruit Medi-clinic, Barberton Medic-Clinic, Midmed Hospital, Cosmos Hospital and Trichard Medi-Clinic.
The following support has also been deployed to Mbombela Stadium and FIFA Fan Park in Nelspruit:
For the stadium:
* 11 doctors, 13 nurses, 10 advance life support, 30 intermediate life support, 29 basic life support, 30 first aiders
* Vehicles: 15 ambulances, two primary response vehicles, one disaster bus, one all terrain vehicle, one minibus, two golf carts and two motor bikes
* An additional two nurses, one doctor, two advance life support, six intermediate life support, 30 first aiders.
For fan park:
* Two doctors, four nurses, two ALS, two ILS, eight BLS, two private nurses
* Three ambulances, one primary response vehicles.
Media enquiries:
Charity Bhengu
Cell: 083 679 7424
Mpho Gabashane
Cell: 082 802 4937
Issued by: Department of Health
17 March 2010
