Improvements at two Pretoria hospitals to combat Covid-19
Kalafong and Mamelodi hospitals have taken extra precautions to ensure all those who visit the hospitals are screened.
Two Pretoria public hospitals have seen their total capacity and state of readiness for combatting the spread of Covid-19 improved.
This included screening tents and an increase in hospital beds.
“We were very lucky at the start of the outbreak because we already had an extra ward which had been earmarked for adolescent patients,” said Kalafong hospital CEO Dr Sello Matjila.
“Since the outbreak, we’ve had to rethink how we can use this ward.
“It has six ICU beds and can accommodate 29 standard beds, which can easily be converted to high care beds.”
Two tents outside the hospital have been set up for the screening of patients.
“Everyone who comes into the hospital is screened,” Matjila said.
“Let’s stick to the measures put in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19.”
A new kangaroo mother care unit has also been built at the Mamelodi regional hospital.
“We have built this ward to provide the community with quality healthcare services,” said Dr Naing Soe, CEO of Mamelodi regional hospital.
Kangaroo care is an intervention where mothers can sit with their babies in the ward and bond with them continuously through skin-to-skin care.
“When completed, this ward will be state-of-the-art.”
The hospital also had a screening tent with different entrances for patients depending on their needs and risks.
“We are working tirelessly for our province not to be hard hit by this Covid-19 virus,” Soe said.
By Friday afternoon, the Gauteng province had 1 446 Covid-19 cases and 11 deaths, according to a statement.
“A total of 72 people had been hospitalised in public and private facilities.”
The department had been working to ensure the speedy resolution of commuted overtime and claims for sessional allowances.
“Approximately 800 commuted overtime backlogs and 152 sessional allowances were outstanding.”
Gauteng health MEC Dr Bandile Masuku described the situation as “deeply regrettable and unacceptable”.
“The last thing health workers should worry about in the middle of an intense fight to stop the further spread of Covid-19 is whether or not they will be able to provide for their families at the end of the month.”
Masuku said those responsible for payment delays would be held accountable.
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