The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has managed to restore normalcy to the healthcare system in the North West.
The force stepped up to help the province after Nehawu-affiliated workers down tools last month in an ongoing strike.
SANDF officials took over the provision of healthcare services at the Mahikeng Provincial Hospital on 21 April, caring for in-patients and out-patients following the strike by healthcare workers.
According to SANDF, their health professionals saw 131 patients within the first 24 hours of the operation and successfully helped deliver nine babies in this period.
Other notable achievements since the deployment include security stabilisation within the hospital, secure access to the hospital by patients, local health care professionals being able to perform their duties and medical waste being collected by the contracted service providers.
Medical products are being distributed by the depot to healthcare facilities such as Ngaka Modiri Molema, Ramotshere Moiloa, Gelukspan Hospital, Mahikeng Provincial Hospital, Bophelong Psychiatric Hospital and surrounding clinics while radio communication has also been established to facilitate the transfer of information to advance the provision.
The Chief of the SANDF, General Solly Shoke, on Friday commended work done by healthcare practitioners and encouraged them to continue providing the vital healthcare services to the people affected.
“The SANDF has stepped up to intervene in the situation in the province to help preserve lives of the most vulnerable who rely heavily on government healthcare services,” said Shoke. - SAnews.gov.za
