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Gearing up for any 2010 health scare

HEALTH CONSCIOUS: Selby Makgotho.Pic. Edward Maahlamela. 18/04/2006. © Sowetan. SW20060419MTA004:INHOUSE:PEOPLE:23APR1980 - EDWARD MAAHLAMELA 2006/04/18 Selby Makgotho sowetan journalist based in Polokwane, Limpopo province.
HEALTH CONSCIOUS: Selby Makgotho.Pic. Edward Maahlamela. 18/04/2006. © Sowetan. SW20060419MTA004:INHOUSE:PEOPLE:23APR1980 - EDWARD MAAHLAMELA 2006/04/18 Selby Makgotho sowetan journalist based in Polokwane, Limpopo province.

LIMPOPO needs to appoint 548 Emergency Management Services officers before the World Cup, provincial health department spokesperson Selby Makgotho said yesterday.

LIMPOPO needs to appoint 548 Emergency Management Services officers before the World Cup, provincial health department spokesperson Selby Makgotho said yesterday.

Makgotho said the province at present had 1500 EMS officers.

This does not include municipal EMS officers.

"We are short of manpower and need to have 3000 (EMS officers) by 2014," Makgotho said.

The appointees will still need to undergo training.

Makgotho said the Limpopo Provincial 2010 Fifa Health Committee met at the weekend and was pleased with the preparations made towards the World Cup.

It confirmed that the Mankweng Hospital Complex in Polokwane, and the Medi-Clinic hospitals (in Lebowakgomo, Mokopane, Seshego and Polokwane) are prepared for the event.

"Key facilities at these hospitals such as theatre operations, trauma centres and intensive care units have gone through an intensive checking process and will therefore be ready to handle any casualty during the Fifa matches," said Makgotho.

He said the environmental health practitioners from the department and Capricorn District Municipality will work jointly to render environmental health services before and during the event.

Various vehicles will be on duty during the event, including eight emergency response vehicles that will be stationed at the stadium and fan parks, and five disaster buses of which two have already arrived, while the remaining three will be ready in April.

In addition, there will be five rescue vehicles, one helicopter and five mobile ICU ambulances, Makgotho said. - Sapa

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