Drastic move follows Kwazakhele attacks on medical personnel
STATE ambulances will only go into Kwazakhele with a police escort following two attacks on emergency personnel in the last four days.
And if the police cannot accompany them, community members must take patients to their closest police station.
This according to Eastern Cape Health Department spokesman Siyanda Manana, who said yesterday the constant attacks on ambulances were denying people the right to access healthcare.
“Criminals are putting our people’s lives in danger. Our people cannot be held hostage by criminals,” he said.
“The Department of Health strongly condemns this behaviour.”
This follows a second attack on an ambulance at Kwazakhele Site and Service in four days.
On Sunday, an obstetric ambulance was attacked, its windows smashed and the crew held at gunpoint and robbed.
Yesterday, a second ambulance crew was attacked nearby.
The head of Emergency Medical Services in Nelson Mandela Bay, Brenhan Metune, said their ambulance had been called out at 2.35am.
“The complaint we received was for a diabetic adult who was unresponsive,” he said.
The ambulance stopped at the address and both medics entered the house and treated the patient.
Operators in the control room kept on checking with the crew if they were safe.
“The crew said they would report back once they were back in the ambulance,” he said.
“Shortly afterwards, six men surrounded the ambulance, pointed guns and knives at the crew and robbed them of their personal belongings.
“There were no physical injuries or damage to the ambulance.
“The crew left the scene with the ambulance and reported it to the police.
“Our staff will be referred for trauma counselling.”
Pastor Afrika Mhlope, who works in Kwazakhele but also offers support to EMS officials, said he was saddened by the latest attack.
He said the community had been trying to get hold of their ward councillor since Sunday to help them find a way to address the attacks on the ambulances, but they had also been discussing the incidents in church.