Emergency Medical and Rescue Services Station, Limpopo
13 December 2007
Programme Director
My colleagues, Health MECs present
Honourable Mayors and all councillors here with us
Government officials
Community of Bela-Bela
Emergency medical services are recognised as a key component within the
health machinery. It is often an entry point into the health service for many
who are under life threatening situations. It also plays an important role in
the transfer of patients from one hospital to another for a higher level of
treatment.
Over the past few years, the demand for emergency medical services has
increased considerably. Government is responding to the increasing demand by
initiating the process of modernising and building of appropriate ambulance
bases from which to provide emergency medical services.
The location of these EMS bases is part of a bigger project. We have a
software based geographical system which, considering demographics,
topographics, road network systems and the location of health facilities,
allows managers in individual provinces to determine the optimal placement of
ambulance bases, and the amount of resources required to meet the needs of the
community being served.
The Limpopo Department of Health currently has 41 EMS stations throughout
the province. The province is currently upgrading or modernising 13 of these
stations. Two of these EMS stations have been completed to date with the
remaining 11 envisaged to be completed by 31 March 2008.
I am glad to say that one of these is this facility that we are opening
today. Programme Director, it gives me a great pleasure to officially open and
handover the Bela-Bela Emergency Medical and Rescue Services Station not only
to the Limpopo Department of Health but to the community of Bela-Bela and
surrounding areas that will benefit from these specialised resources in their
time of need.
Thank you and have a peaceful festive season.
Issued by: Department of Health
13 December 2007
Source: Department of Health (http://www.doh.gov.za)
