Blood would flow on the muddy ground from ambulances as they were being washed, exposing anyone within close range to possible cross-infections.
This, according to the Vhembe district manager for emergency medical services (EMS) Raphahlela Solomon Mohale, was the condition at the old EMS station at Masisi village in far north Limpopo.
Mohale was speaking to Sowetan the night before the official launch of a new EMS building which services 40 villages, six clinics, surrounding farms as well as the Kruger National Park.
He said the old facility was a dilapidated structure which lacked a proper washing bay for ambulances and a drainage system to capture the bloodied water.
"We work with blood; after every call ambulances need to be washed.
"Blood would just flow because there was no proper drainage system," Mohale said.
Before 2010, the rural area had no emergency medical services, which meant that they would have to get support from Mutale and elsewhere.
When Sowetan arrived at the station, some of its 16 paramedics were busy preparing ambulances to be ready for calls.
A staff member was washing one of the ambulances with a high pressure hose in the new state-of-the-art washing bay.
The ambulance, which appeared to be covered in dust, had just returned after being out the whole day.
Mohale said although the new EMS station was a huge improvement, the staff were still faced with travelling long distances, often driving on gravel roads, which delayed response time.
He said according to the national norms and standards, response time for urban areas should be 15 minutes and 40 minutes for rural areas.
When it started raining during the interview, Mohale recalled how the old building would get flooded on rainy days, which would sometimes prevent the staff from entering the building.
The nearest hospital to the station is in Thohoyandou, a town approximately 100km away from Masisi, which is closer to the Zimbabwe border.
Mohale said this also meant that sometimes EMS workers would have to pick up two patients from different areas during one call in order to save time.
The Masisi station gets between 180 and 200 calls per month, most of which are maternity and assault cases.
Mohale said this is relatively low compared to stations such as Thohoyandou, which is rated as the highest in the district with up to 2000 cases a month.
However, Mohale said the station in Masisi would need at least 40 staff members in order to work efficiently instead of the current 16.
He said when people go on leave it becomes a challenge, leading to instances whereby the control room would be left unattended.
"The control room is according to me the heart of the establishment," he said.
Acting station manager Ntungufhadzeni Nephalama said working in the old building was a miserable affair.
Nephalama said the new building was more conducive and well- equipped.
"I am very happy. Even when I'm at home, I look forward to coming to work," she said.
Old structure to be used in fighting malaria
AN OLD building which once housed the emergency medical services (EMS) unit at a Limpopo village will be developed into a malaria treatment centre.
Speaking to Sowetan at Masisi village yesterday during the launch of the new EMS facility, health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba confirmed the old structure would be used as a malaria centre.
Ramathuba said due to its proximity to the border between South Africa and Zimbabwe, Masisi was malaria prone.
She said although SA had done well in combating the disease in provinces including Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, it was important to continue monitoring the situation.
"We must work harder to make sure that we eradicate malaria," Ramathuba said.
The MEC also handed over 10 new ambulances and two mobile clinics at the local community hall.
Two of the ambulances will be used in the Vhembe district municipality area while the rest will be dispatched to other districts across the province.
Ramathuba said improving infrastructure in remote areas such as Masisi would also promote the retention of medical staff.
She said most medical staff members opted to work in urban areas because rural areas lacked basic necessities, good schools, roads and even shopping complexes.
"If you know Masisi you will know that it is far from everything. The people here also deserve to have equal access to healthcare. We need to fix roads and build better schools to attract professionals," she said.
Ramathuba said their aim was to send more mobile clinics to remote areas with the view of building hospitals and clinics in the future.
mahopoz@sowetan.co.za
Healthy boost for village
Blood would flow on the muddy ground from ambulances as they were being washed, exposing anyone within close range to possible cross-infections.
This, according to the Vhembe district manager for emergency medical services (EMS) Raphahlela Solomon Mohale, was the condition at the old EMS station at Masisi village in far north Limpopo.
Mohale was speaking to Sowetan the night before the official launch of a new EMS building which services 40 villages, six clinics, surrounding farms as well as the Kruger National Park.
He said the old facility was a dilapidated structure which lacked a proper washing bay for ambulances and a drainage system to capture the bloodied water.
"We work with blood; after every call ambulances need to be washed.
"Blood would just flow because there was no proper drainage system," Mohale said.
Before 2010, the rural area had no emergency medical services, which meant that they would have to get support from Mutale and elsewhere.
When Sowetan arrived at the station, some of its 16 paramedics were busy preparing ambulances to be ready for calls.
A staff member was washing one of the ambulances with a high pressure hose in the new state-of-the-art washing bay.
The ambulance, which appeared to be covered in dust, had just returned after being out the whole day.
Mohale said although the new EMS station was a huge improvement, the staff were still faced with travelling long distances, often driving on gravel roads, which delayed response time.
He said according to the national norms and standards, response time for urban areas should be 15 minutes and 40 minutes for rural areas.
When it started raining during the interview, Mohale recalled how the old building would get flooded on rainy days, which would sometimes prevent the staff from entering the building.
The nearest hospital to the station is in Thohoyandou, a town approximately 100km away from Masisi, which is closer to the Zimbabwe border.
Mohale said this also meant that sometimes EMS workers would have to pick up two patients from different areas during one call in order to save time.
The Masisi station gets between 180 and 200 calls per month, most of which are maternity and assault cases.
Mohale said this is relatively low compared to stations such as Thohoyandou, which is rated as the highest in the district with up to 2000 cases a month.
However, Mohale said the station in Masisi would need at least 40 staff members in order to work efficiently instead of the current 16.
He said when people go on leave it becomes a challenge, leading to instances whereby the control room would be left unattended.
"The control room is according to me the heart of the establishment," he said.
Acting station manager Ntungufhadzeni Nephalama said working in the old building was a miserable affair.
Nephalama said the new building was more conducive and well- equipped.
"I am very happy. Even when I'm at home, I look forward to coming to work," she said.
Old structure to be used in fighting malaria
AN OLD building which once housed the emergency medical services (EMS) unit at a Limpopo village will be developed into a malaria treatment centre.
Speaking to Sowetan at Masisi village yesterday during the launch of the new EMS facility, health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba confirmed the old structure would be used as a malaria centre.
Ramathuba said due to its proximity to the border between South Africa and Zimbabwe, Masisi was malaria prone.
She said although SA had done well in combating the disease in provinces including Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, it was important to continue monitoring the situation.
"We must work harder to make sure that we eradicate malaria," Ramathuba said.
The MEC also handed over 10 new ambulances and two mobile clinics at the local community hall.
Two of the ambulances will be used in the Vhembe district municipality area while the rest will be dispatched to other districts across the province.
Ramathuba said improving infrastructure in remote areas such as Masisi would also promote the retention of medical staff.
She said most medical staff members opted to work in urban areas because rural areas lacked basic necessities, good schools, roads and even shopping complexes.
"If you know Masisi you will know that it is far from everything. The people here also deserve to have equal access to healthcare. We need to fix roads and build better schools to attract professionals," she said.
Ramathuba said their aim was to send more mobile clinics to remote areas with the view of building hospitals and clinics in the future.
mahopoz@sowetan.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos