“In August we will be receiving a fleet of 159 extra ambulances which will be distributed to all districts. Of course, we may not be able to meet the shortest but that problem is compounded when our ambulance attendants cannot freely go out to provide emergency medical care because they fear for their lives,” MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo told a packed hall of communities leaders in Newcastle.
In the first semester of 2011, the department has lost two ambulance attendants who were killed in the line of duty. In April 43 years old, Mr Thulani Mkhize, who was shot to death while transporting a patient. He lost his struggle for life on the operating theatre a few hours later. In May, the MEC attended a funeral of Mr Michael Mazibuko (44) who was called to assist his crew mates at an incident in Rosedale (Escourt) where a perpetrator had stabbed his own parents. On arrival at the scene and whilst assessing one of the patients’ he was attacked and stabbed several times and died instantly.
There has been a number of hijackings and assault as well as intimidation (23 between April and June) cases of ambulance attendants while caring for the ill.
The meeting is part of the MEC’s District visits that he is undertaking to mobilise communities for better health outcomes. It is part of the department’s effort to mobilise communities and all sectors in the delivery of quality healthcare.
The MEC provided the meeting with the current health status which highlights that KwaZulu-Natal is leading in a number of diseases especially TB, HIV and AIDS. He announced a number of infrastructure developments in the Districts such as the completed Madadeni Hospital and Newcastle mortuaries. He further announced a number of clinics to be completed including the hand-over of a construction site for the Madadeni unit seven clinic on Friday, 22 July 2011.
For pictures call:
Themba Mngomezulu
Cell: 072 517 5417
Enquiries:
Chris Maxon
Cell: 083 447 2869
MEC Dhlomo urges community leaders to help stop the killing of ambulance attendants
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