Speaking notes for the Premier of Limpopo Mr Chupu Mathabatha, on the occasion of the Handover of Ambulances, Polokwane Hospital
Programme director; MEC Phophi Ramathuba;
Mayor of Polokwane Local Municipality;
Executive Mayor of Mopani District Municipality;
Acting HOD for the Department of Health;
Leadership and the staff of the Hospital, Dr. Kgaphole; Our hardworking officials in the Department of Health; Our friends in the media;
Ladies and gentlemen:
The festive season is no longer around the corner; we are in the festive season.
Besides the love and celebrations that are traditionally associated with this season, we also know that this is the one time where our emergency medical services get stretched to the maximum limit.
The demand for ambulance services is always at its peak during this time.
This handing over of ambulances could therefore not have come at a better time.
But as you know, we have been handing over ambulances to various hospitals across the province as part and parcel of our health system turnaround strategy.
This is in line with the commitment we have made to our people to resuscitate the provincial public health system back to normal health.
Programme Director;
The Emergency Medical Services is the backbone and a pillar programme in our Public Health System.
This programme renders a 24 hour emergency medical rescue response services, which include treatment and emergency transportation of the critically ill or injured patients to the nearest appropriate health care facility.
The programme further includes planned transportation between health care facilities, what is popularly known as PPT, Planned Patient Transport.
The service is carried out by trained Emergency Care Practitioners based at 57 EMS stations throughout the province.
Furthermore, as a province we have an Air Ambulance service on contract providing EMS services for obstetric and critically ill patients across the Province.
The work we are doing is in line with the dictates of our constitution which direct us to ensure that no one may be refused emergency medical treatment.
The MEC would confirm that; Emergency medical services (EMS) in South Africa have developed rapidly over the last 21 years.
We had inherited a system that was birth-marked by inequitable distribution of services, with many of our rural areas being poorly serviced and resourced.
As a province we are proud that we have made great strides in addressing the limited access of EMS to rural communities and today’s event is a living testimony.
As I have said in my introduction, over the past two years, the province has embarked on a concerted effort to improve access to Emergency Medical Services, with the procurement of 50 ambulances in 2014/15.
These new ambulances were all distributed and have increased the ambulance fleet to 456 ambulances.
For this Financial Year we had we committed ourselves to further expand the service, through the procurement of another 100 ambulances.
You would recall that in August, we commissioned sixty (60) ambulances for service. These ambulances were distributed to all five districts in the province and improved the response time to emergency calls.
Today we mark the 2ndcommissioning of ambulances for the 2015/16 financial year. Of the 40 ambulances to be commissioned, 20 are earmarked as normal ambulances.
These ambulances are commissioned today as part of the Department’s Strategic Plan for rendering Emergency Services during the festive season.
This event also demonstrates our province’s preparedness for the festive season. Over the next four weeks our EMS will be on standby at 26 key points throughout the province. This service will be supported by the daylight air ambulance service.
Apart from rendering an EMS service, reducing maternal and child mortality is also a priority in the country. The poor or Non Transportation of pregnant women was identified as one of the main factors leading to increased maternal deaths in the country.
Since 2011, we have taken the lead to implement Obstetric Ambulances throughout the Province.
The province took a decision to convert 20, out of the 100 ambulances, into obstetric ambulances. Six (6) of these ambulances will be commissioned today.
The remaining of the obstetric ambulances will be commissioned in January 2016, as they still need to be fitted with necessary incubators.
Programme Director;
As I conclude, let me say that during this festive season we will also ensure that all Health Facilities remain operational to deal with the health and medical needs of our people.
In this regard, contingency plans have been developed for each health facility.
As we depart from this place, I challenge every one of you to become an ambassador of responsible driving and safety on the roads.
Let us not just speak but lead through actions.
I thank you!
