North West - The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in the North West is well prepared to handle emergency situations which may arise during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
"I can say without doubt that we are ready to render quality medical services and protect our people from diseases during the games," said MEC for Health and Social Development, Rebecca Kasienyane.
Medical emergencies not only include incidents that may occur at stadiums, but also an outbreak of disease. "The EMS is ready to protect its people and guests from communicable and non communicable diseases during the 2010 FIFA World Cup games," said the MEC.
Ms Kasienyane, who was tabling her department's R5.5 million budget, said that the province had learnt much from successfully hosting the FIFA Confederations Cup last month.
"Our province hosted a successful Confederations Cup and our medical, EMS, outbreak diseases and surveillance teams have done a tremendous work and are taking with us lessons learnt to the 2010 World Cup."
Ms Kasienyane said that it was not only up to emergency medical personnel, but also the doctors, nurses and social workers to make the World Cup a success.
Additional funds were made available for the implementation of the Occupation Specific Dispensation (OSD) for nurses, reducing the cases of Multi-Drug Resistant and Extreme-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis, reducing infant and child mortality, ongoing infrastructure projects, rolling out a comprehensive HIV and AIDS strategy, boiler maintenance and repairs, pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, EMS and building the Job Shimankana Tabane Hospital.
Ms Kasienyane warned that she will closely guard against corruption, fraud and maladministration of state funds.
"The net is closing on corrupt officials who misuse state funds. We will have no remorse in dealing with those who are found on the wrong end of the law, I am however confident we will do more with this budget," she said.
