“We are in a war and we are losing our soldiers on the frontline.” This is according to Mzwandile Shongwe, provincial secretary of the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa).

The organisation is threatening to down tools if the Department of Health (DoH) does not implement the necessary measures to ensure the safety of staff fighting the pandemic in hospitals daily.

 Denosa alleges that the provincial DoH and national government are undermining their safety and compromising patients’ lives. The overwhelming increase of people who tested positive for Covid-19 and the number of fatalities are putting a lot of pressure on the health system. The death toll of patients and frontline workers has increased, proper personal protective equipment (PPE) is not available in the province, and the current shortage of space at both private and public healthcare facilities and strain on healthcare workers are raising questions regarding the future.

The Covid-19 death toll in Mpumalanga on January 11 stood at 711. Denosa confirmed that there is no space to accommodate Covid-19 patients in Mbombela in either private or public facilities. Carla van Pletzen, a public relations practitioner whose parents live in Mbombela, shared a post on Facebook on Tuesday pleading with the city’s community to help her find a space for her mother in any health facility in the area.

The family underwent a traumatic experience of having to drive behind an ambulance when they could not find any space on Tuesday. They only managed to find a bed in the early hours of yesterday morning. The family of a patient who is currently admitted to Rob Ferreira Hospital was urged by the hospital to seek space at Mpumalanga Regional Training Trust (MRTT) in KaNyamazane.

When Lowvelder contacted the DoH, the spokesperson Dumisani Malamule, was unclear on whether there is currently enough space for Covid-19 patients in Mpumalanga healthcare facilities. He said all the hospitals in the public sector have identified units for patients who tested positive and those under investigation.

“The approach is to daily monitor availability of beds. Patients are admitted at any of the hospitals where there is space.”

Rob Ferreira was declared the designated hospital for managing Covid-19 cases in 2020, yet frontline workers have raised their concerns about the lack of proper PPE. The department has denied that proper PPE is unavailable, yet doctors and nurses at the hospital are adamant that they do not have the necessary equipment.   Denosa has confirmed that nurses at Rob do not have the required equipment.

“They had to return masks that had been sent to them since they were dust masks and not for medical use, at Rob Ferreira two weeks ago. These masks were delivered to the hospital for the healthcare professionals to use. We have been explaining to government for a while now that KN95 masks are not for medical use. They do not protect the workers,” said Shongwe.

“You would expect that the ‘serious’ government would take us seriously and recognise the work we do. People have been stealing the money meant for PPE and that is why our members are not receiving quality equipment.”

He said all members must not help the patients if they do not have proper PPE. He said if nurses find themselves in a difficult situation they must call the organisation.

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“We visited eMalahleni hospitals. We informed the MEC of health of the overflow in facilities, in both private and public hospitals. The wards designated for Covid-19 are full in both private and public facilities.” Tonga Hospital and Lydenburg Hospital are also facing challenges. Community members in Tonga allege that the hospital is overflowing with patients. Shongwe said Denosa is planning to visit it. Shongwe said they have requested a meeting with the premier. “We need to find out what plans they have in place. As we speak there is money that has been returned to National Treasury. They also froze nearly all of the 2020 job posts.”

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Mediclinic Nelspruit has cancelled or postponed elective (or non-emergency) surgery in an effort to create additional capacity within its facility. Dr Gerrit de Villiers, chief clinical officer of Mediclinic Southern Africa, said urgent and emergency surgery will continue.

According to De Villiers, in a statement issued on January 7, Mediclinic Nelspruit had 140 Covid-19 patients who were being cared for in various Covid-19 units in accordance with the level of care their condition requires.

“Mediclinic Nelspruit can confirm that, as is the case across the region and country, we have noted a strong, sudden and sustained increase in the number of Covid-19 patients presenting for care. As such we are implementing additional measures to increase capacity but our resources, notably staffing, emergency centre capacity and critical care resources, are under significant strain and often at capacity.”

“Kiaat Private Hospital is under tremendous pressure, but is making plans to assist patients as far as possible,” said Candice Peterson, the marketing manager of Kiaat.

Meanwhile, Malamule said the DoH has developed a vaccination roll-out plan as per guidelines provided by the national Department of Health.