Musina EMS gets much needed vehicles
Last year, the Musina EMS had five ambulance vehicles but only one was operational.
MUSINA – No less than fiver ambulance vehicles were handed over to the Musina Emergency Medical Services (EMS) by MEC for Health, Dr Phophi Ramathuba.
Last year, CV reported on the dire need of patients in the area, which at the time was serviced by one functioning ambulance per 68 000 people.
Ramathuba confirmed the handover.
DA Provincial Chairperson, Bodlani Langa said: “At the beginning of 2016, EMS in Musina had five ambulances, but only one has been operational in the month of June while the rest were in need of repair”.
“This issue came to light after we received a complaint from a resident who called the ambulance on Saturday evening. He was informed that there was only one operational ambulance and they could not offer any assistance,” he said.
“This just brings to question how many people in need of emergency medical attention have been left unattended. Musina Municipality has a population of about 68 000 people and it is unacceptable that this entire population is dependent on a single ambulance. People cannot receive medical assistance or get quality health care because the single ambulance is inundated,” said Langa.
Langa said Section 27 of the Constitution states that everyone has the right to have access to health care services including emergency medical services and that the state must take reasonable legislative and other measures within available resources to achieve the progressive realisation of the right.
Quality basic healthcare is a basic human right and it is of utmost importance to rectify this injustice in Musina Municipality to avoid the needless loss of life due to delayed or complete lack of emergency medical services, according to Langa.
DA researcher, Moses Mariga who is based in Musina confirmed that the situation has improved and that there are now five ambulances servicing the people. |
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