In these trying times of Covid-19, we need all hands on the deck and to try new strategies to fight the virus.
One of the strategies DoH could implement is to keep community clinics open 24/7 so as to decrease the burden on our hospital. Minor cases can be treated in the clinics, even at night. In most cases, someone will be suffering from a stomach bug, a bad headache or a minor stab wound. Because it’s late and clinics are closed, they are sent to hospital.
I believe such cases should be attended by clinic staff. The hospital should be freed to focus on Covid-19, critical cases and emergencies. I believe this would give relief to our overcrowded hospital and overworked staff.
In the case of Makana, the DoH should speedily engage the Municipality to make the Indoor Sport Centre a Covid-19 ready site, so we don’t find ourselves caught off guard again as the second wave strikes.
The filling of vacant positions must be addressed immediately to reinforce the skeleton staff working at the moment. As soon as Netcare walked away from the public-private partnership, it was there for everyone to see that the department had no capacity. They outsourced services ( kitchen, cleaning and laundry). This is killing the gains of worker unions that resolved a long time ago that labour brokers and outsourced services must be done away with. Every position is critical now. Working together, we can beat this virus.
Aluta continua.
Xabiso Ngqawana
