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South African Broadcasting Corporation Copyright ©
2000 - 2005 SABC |
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| In Focus Sunday
Jun 6, 2004
. . .SABC2 19:30
"The
poor state of emergency services in the Eastern Cape" |
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The lives and health of
people in the Eastern Cape are increasingly being compromised by the
deterioration of emergency services. A report by the Department of
Health in the province revealed a serious shortage in personnel and
roadworthy vehicles. More than 400 vacancies exist. In addition at
least 400 more staff members are needed. Most emergency workers are
over-worked and under-paid. The result is huge backlogs and staff can
seldom respond quickly to emergency calls.
People in disadvantaged
areas suffer most as they are dependent on ambulances to get to
hospital in emergency situations. Yet it can take hours before an
ambulance arrives. In one case, a seriously injured girl, who jumped
from the balcony of a third story flat to escape a rapist, had to wait
13 hours on an ambulance. |
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In the Nelson Mandela
Metro (Port Elizabeth and environs) only ten ambulances are on duty
while at least 20 are needed. The department acknowledged that 9 out
10 vehicles are in poor condition. Some ambulances have not been
registered because the department failed to pay an outstanding amount
of some one million rand for licences.
Focus did an in-depth
investigation into the situation and spoke to several people who
experienced the poor service first hand. The MEC for Health, Dr. Bevan
Goqwana, responded to the allegations.
The report was
produced by Keith Sayster and the presenter is Freek Robinson |
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and
cartoon
characters become champions for change.
This and
more in Focus on Sunday evening. |
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These stories and more in Focus this Sunday evening at half past seven on SABC
2.
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page by
Steven Lang
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