MBOMBELA – The MEC for health, Mr Gillion Mashego, unveiled a new fleet of emergency medical services (EMS) vehicles on Wednesday.
These include 32 ambulances of which six are obstetric vehicles that will be used to transport pregnant women in emergency circumstances.
The MEC said the department was concerned about maternal mortalities. Twelve more all-terrain vehicles were added to reach areas which normal ones cannot easily access.
Eighteen mobile clinics were also procured. Nine will operate in Ehlanzeni and nine in Nkangala. Of those in Ehlanzeni, Mbombela, Umjindi, Nkomazi and Bushbuckridge local municipalities will each receive two. Thaba Chweu will receive one.
Mashego said the department has in the past been unable to respond adequately to the needs of the people and the new medical vehicles will address the problem.
He said some areas, like farm dwellings, did not meet the requirements for a hospital to be built and the mobile clinics will assist in such cases.
According to the MEC, the vehicles will be distributed to different regions in the province. He said this will be based on the needs of the communities.
He also admitted that the department did not have enough EMS vehicles in the past and hoped to procure more in the near future. Mashego announced that the department had embarked on a process to ensure that it provides the best healthcare facilities.
He also said plans were in place to construct a satellite health facility in Acornhoek, Bushbuckridge. This comes after residents of the area engaged the premier, Mr David Mabuza, on the need to build one in the area.
Mashego lashed out at government officials who used state resources for the wrong reasons. “We condemn the abuse of state resources. “If the community come across these vehicles in taverns and other places they are not intended to be, they should contact us and we will make sure that the responsible official is dealt with,” he added.
