Cause of Steve Biko hospital fire still undetermined – Tshwane EMS
Eighteen patients and a corpse had to be moved as a safety precaution.
The Tshwane Emergency Services Department fire and rescue teams have been unable to determine the cause of the fire at Steve Biko Academic hospital on Monday morning.
A Tshwane EMS spokesperson said, “the cause of the fire couldn’t be specifically linked to a particular source”.
The fire broke out around 01:20 at a Wendy house used as a temporary storage area for Covid-19 medical waste and an in-transit corpse area.
Hospital staff hastily had to evacuate 18 patients and a corpse from a temporary structure when a fire broke out, according to Kwara Kekana, spokesperson for Gauteng Health MEC.
“They were moved to a separate temporary structure as a safety precaution due to the fire.”
Kekana said the fire was successfully put out by hospital staff using fire extinguishers on site.
She said no other patients or staff were injured; however, a special temporary isolation unit and a tent used for persons being checked for Covid-19 were affected.
Kekana said the affected structures were located outside the hospital’s casualty area.
She said the hospital had created a contingency area for an isolation unit as well as where Covid-19 patients may be checked.
The Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union (YNITU) further demanded for the provincial health department do away with temporary Covid-19 tents and replace them with permanent structures, such as clinics.
“We must highlight an area of grave concern over the state of these tents which are still being used to treat Covid-19,” YNITU President Rich Sicina said.
Sicina said the poor quality temporary structures placed outside the hospital entrance were a violation of patients’ dignity.
“Patients are directly exposed to the elements, and it is difficult to keep the space warm and to maintain privacy,” he said.
“This government must stop cutting corners.
“We have lived with this virus for more than two years now. It is time to replace these tents with proper solid Covid-19 clinics to help in the fight against this pandemic.
“Our members are also being exploited and forced to work in these sub-standard conditions,” Sicina added.
Sicina said the situation was unacceptable and if the government failed to act, “it is very likely that another incident of this nature may happen again because these tents are made of flimsy material”.
“Next time, the outcome could be far worse.”
He said the community deserved better service and quality healthcare.
DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health Jack Bloom commended the staff for extinguishing the fire.
“I am relieved that swift action with fire extinguishers put out a fire at the Steve Biko hospital.”
Bloom said the incident highlighted the continuing hazard of fires at our health facilities, as well as the value of trained staff and equipment to prevent a fire from spreading.
“This is the fifth fire in seven years at Gauteng health facilities.”
Kekana said the hospital took note of the union’s demands.
She said the Gauteng Provincial government had also made permanent additions at various facilities since 2020 which included additional beds capacity created, and entirely new structures such as the 500-bed facility at Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital, the 300 beds facility at Jubilee hospital and others.
ALSO READ: Corpse and waste area at Steve Biko hospital hit by fire
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