Military medical teams have been deployed to some Gauteng hospitals where health workers are overburdened and at risk of burnout due to the resurgence of Covid-19 cases, which have seen a surge in admission of patients and increased bed space in wards.
Three of the hospitals in dire need of supports include Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto, Jubilee Hospital and Bronkhorstspruit Hospital – both in Tshwane. Additional wards have been opened at these hospitals to create more capacity to handle patients during the third wave of the pandemic.
Gauteng premier David Makhura’s spokesperson Vuyo Mhaga told Sowetan yesterday that the deployment of the military personnel, the second such mission to civilian hospitals in the province since March last year, is meant to ease pressure on health workers.
Bara has put in place 400 extra beds for Covid patients while Jubilee and Bronkorspruit have 300 beds each.
Private hospitals in the province announced last week that they were the hard hit with a number of facilities running out of space for Covid-19 patients.
“They [soldiers] are deployed close to areas that are hotspots in the province and they are there to man the extra beds that were recently built to extend those hospitals. They will assist with patients directly and also take care of any logistical needs by hospital staff. They are there to ease the pressure on health workers,” said Mhaga.
On Friday, acting health minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane said she had asked defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula for the deployment of SA National Defence Force medical and support teams to Gauteng.
Her request was triggered by the resurgence of Covid-19 cases, with infections in Gauteng averaging over 6,000 daily infections a day in the past seven days. On Thursday, there were 4,740 admitted patients (3,449 at private hospitals and 1,291 at public facilities), with 1,308 in ICU.
National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union Gauteng coordinator Clement Marule said they have received complaints about the workload, which is increasing daily. “We are meeting with our Gauteng Command Centre on Wednesday and they will give us more information, including the number of workers that are infected with Covid,” he said.
Mhaga could not give specific details on the number of soldiers but said Sedibeng, Tembisa, Tshwane CBD, Mamelodi, Atteridgeville and Johannesburg north have been identified as Covid-19 hotspots.
“The outbreaks are caused by the movement of people. In the case of Sedibeng, it’s the movement of people between that area and Free State that could have caused the upsurge because that province is also experiencing a third wave. Also, people are still hosting gatherings and house parties where Covid-19 protocols are relaxed and there is no wearing of masks,” added Mhanga.
He said the enforcement of the curfew would be ramped up this week, with police visibility at night and to ensure that people adhered to the restrictions imposed to contain the spread of the virus.
SANDF spokesperson Brig Gen Mafi Mgobozi said they have not received authorisation from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office to start deployment but that they were ready.
Vusumuzi Xaba, chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio on defence, said he had only heard about the deployment of the army through the media but did not rule out its possibility as there could have been a verbal agreement between the Presidency and SANDF.
Bara clinical director Dr Steve Mankupane told Sowetan yesterday they expected 60 military nurses and five doctors to arrive at the hospital arrive today.
Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union president Lerato Mthunzi said health workers are starting to feel the pinch. “Nurses are getting burnt out, even those working are getting infected by the virus and some hospitals are working on a skeleton stuff.
“Absenteeism and sick leave are on the rise because planning has been dismal,” she said. Mthunzi welcomed the deployment of the military to help but said the new deployees also become a burden for a few days as they get inducted to the new environment.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.