The Eastern Cape Health Department says despite the slight decline in COVID-19 deaths in the province, there are still concerns over high mortality rates in some areas.
Health MEC Nomakhosazana Meth briefed the media at the launch of a vaccination site at the Wildcoast Sun in Mbizana.
The areas with high mortality rates include rural districts such as Sarah Baartman, Chris Hani, and Joe Gqabi.
“The number of deaths due to COVID- 19 have declined slightly from 191 to 156 reported in the current week. The majority of these deaths are reported in Nelson Mandela Metro, Chris Hani, Joe Gqabi, and Sarah Baartman.”
The province is very concerned with the trend of high mortality rate amongst those infected with COVID- 19.
“Particularly we are concerned about the high mortality rate in the rural districts such as Chris Hani, Joe Gqabi, and Sarah Baartman, even including the post mortem discovery of those who passed on being positive in Alfred Nzo district,” adds Meth.
Partnerships
The Health Department has formed partnerships with businesses to speed up the vaccination programme. Some schools, clinics, church buildings, and community halls are being used as vaccination sites.
But the programme is not without challenges. MEC Meth says they have reviewed the new target of vaccinating over 50 000 people a day.
“Due to vaccine instability that is affecting the country, the National Department of Health has since revised the targets for all provinces. The Eastern Cape is expected to be able to administer 42 000 vaccines per day by 31st August 2021. Remember I had said to you we are targeting 50 000 per day, but there’s since been a reviewal of that. “
Residents in villages close to the Wildcoast Sun in Mzamba where the new vaccination site has been opened grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
Nonkuluko Mzangwa and Nomfanelo Bixi received their Johnson and Johnson jabs and were elated.
“I met a friend of mine at Port Edward and she told me there’s a vaccination site here at the casino. So we are happy that we have a site here because we will not be standing in queues in hospitals and clinics. Everything is going well here and we are very grateful”.
“I was working and our manager called and told us we have a vaccination site here at the Wildcoast. So we told other residents to come. I have been vaccinated and there’s nothing painful. I have no side effects. We are thankful because we came on foot and we did not waste money”.
Currently, the Eastern Cape has a total of 7370 active COVID-19 cases. But the good news is that hospital admissions have declined over the past seven days.
