Nelspruit - The national Department of Health and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) have declared Mpumalanga ready for emergencies during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Leading a delegation that inspected health facilities around Nelspruit on Wednesday, national 2010 Health Co-ordinator Pumzile Kedama said the delegation was satisfied with the province's health facilities, equipment and staff readiness.
"The province has bought 50 new ambulances and their emergency medical centre and other medical vehicles are ready for the World Cup. The delegation is happy with what we have seen," said Kedama.
The delegation included LOC general medical officer Victor Ramathesele, Dr Confidence Moloko, adviser to Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi, as well as provincial government officials, who included five MECs.
The delegation inspected Barberton Hospital, Rob Ferreira Hospital in Nelspruit and Themba Hospital in White River, as well as the VIP, spectators' and players' medical centres and the doping centre at Mbombela Stadium.
"We are also impressed by the progress made at the stadium, where the medical rooms are currently being equipped. We have no doubt that this province will host a successful tournament," Kedama said.
The spokesperson for the provincial Department of Health and Social Development, Mpho Gabashane, said extra support staff and equipment have been deployed to the Mbombela Stadium.
This includes 11 doctors, 13 nurses, 10 advance life-support personnel, 30 intermediate life-support personnel, 29 basic life-support personnel, 30 first aiders, 15 ambulances, two primary response vehicles, one disaster bus, two golf carts, two motorbikes and one all-terrain vehicle.
"We have also not forgotten that there are people who will be watching the games in the Fan Park that is currently under construction, so we have deployed the following staff to look after them: two doctors, four nurses, two intermediate life-support personnel, two basic life-support personnel and three ambulances," said Gabashane.
A number of public and private hospitals in the province have been designated for treatment of patients during the World Cup.
In addition to the hospitals inspected on Wednesday, Middelburg, Witbank and Evander public hospitals; and (in the private sector) Nelspruit Medi-Clinic, Barberton Medi-Clinic, Midmed Hospital (Middelburg), Cosmos Hospital (Witbank) and the Higveld Medi-Clinic in Trichard near Secunda have been earmarked.
