R4.5-million injection for Gauteng health to fight Covid-19

The Gauteng Department of Health has received R4.5-million worth of personal protective equipment wear from Mediclinic.

The handover of more than 50 000 KN95 masks, 10 000 medical overall cover-ups and 20 000 double medical overall cover ups was held at Kalafong hospital in the west of Pretoria on Tuesday.

The items were to be distributed in hospitals and health care facilities across the province for frontline workers. Acting Gauteng health MEC Jacob Mamabolo said the PPE donations would play an important role to strengthen the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The donations come at a time the department has noted a 6% increase in Covid cases in seven days, after the country was placed under alert level 1 and will play a significant part in protecting the health of the frontline workers. Although generally, the infection rate has levelled this is no time to put our guard down. The fight against the pandemic has not stopped,” Mamabolo said.

Mamabolo said the donations would also help strengthen the existing relationship between the private and public health facilities in the common fight against Covid-19.

“We are united in the common fight against Covid-19 and we are fully united to protect the frontline workers against Covid-19.”

Mamabolo said the handover was essential as the Pretoria West area was one of the hotspots in the region.

General manager of the hospital Dr Sello Matjila said the donations would help to alleviate anxiety of some of the staff members as the hospital was situated in an area hit hard by the pandemic.

“During the peak, we had high usage of PPEs, however, things have since stabilised. There is always a need to have our workers protected as we were hard hit by the outbreak and we are thankful for the donations.”

With the hospital initially not being one of the designated facilities to treat Covid-19 patients and with no additional infrastructure provided, Matjila said during the peak the workers put up a good fight.

“We had to dig deep to try and find space for the influx of patients. We used a ward that we had just refurbished and it bought us some space to deal with some of the cases. But also working with the other hospitals during the peak was important and played a vital role in ensuring people’s health.”

Mediclinic Midstream hospital general manager Dr Shane Kotze said the donations to the public facility was one of the practical ways to support the different communities.

“The Gauteng province has experienced the largest number of infections but together the public and private sectors have managed the demands on our facilities with professionalism and with courage. If we can recognise the important work being done by all healthcare workers – providing PPE is probably the most practical and valuable way to do so,” Kotze said.

Mediclinic Heart hospital general manager Dr Lehlohonolo Majake said expertise has been shared between all levels of the healthcare industry.

“Doctors, academics and other experts have worked together to create a climate that allows for the best possible treatment of patients. Mediclinic is proud to be associated with this donation. A simple gesture of mutual respect and appreciation.”