Health authorities in the North West have raised concerns about the sharp increase in coronavirus infections among healthcare workers.
They say the situation is negatively affecting the provision of health care services in the province.
Last week, 12 health workers tested positive for COVID-19 at the Tigane Community Health Centre in Hartebeesfontein, while 49 tested positive at the Klerksdorp-Tshepong Hospital.
Health MEC Madoda Sambatha briefed the media in Mahikeng on the status of COVID-19 infections and how the province is dealing with the fourth wave.
“What we see which is beginning to give us a problem is a sharp increase in healthcare workers testing positive and this one gives a danger on health delivery beyond COVID-19. Take an example that last week, we had to reduce hours of Tigane Community Health Centre because twelve staff members tested positive. Out of twelve, ten are professional nurses,” says Sambatha.
Health authorities worried about rising COVID-19 cases:
Vaccination rollout
Meanwhile, Sambatha says the North West is below 50% in the administration of the vaccination rollout programme.
“As we speak of today (Wednesday) we have administered 1 667 vaccines. We are now at 42% and remember…our target is 70%. As we speak, we have vaccinated 1.6 million people in the province. The 70% target is 2.7 million people, which means we are short of a million to get our expectation of a 70% population vaccination.”
Sambatha says the best performing districts with regards to the province’s vaccine rollout are Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, followed by Ngaka Modiri Molema, Dr Kenneth Kaunda and Bojanala.
He says the best performing sub-district is Naledi.
In the video below, a report on the closure of the Tigane Community Healthcare Centre due to COVID-19 cases:
