Speech by KZN Health MEC, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo on the occasion of the launch of the EMRS Easter Alpha Operation at Escort Ultra City
20 April 2011
Programme Director We would like to acknowledge and thank all our important stakeholders available on this day including: 3 Members from the Media 3 SA Military Health Services 3 SAPS 3 UThukela Municipal Fire Department 3 RTI
I will start by pointing out that Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) is one of the three core functions within the Department of Health, which aims to provide a quality, efficient, professional and caring emergency medical and rescue service throughout the Province of KwaZulu-Natal.
It is with deep concern that we acknowledge that in South Africa, thousands of people die on the roads and millions sustain permanent debilitating injuries every year especially during the holiday seasons. I may as well inform you that during Easter last year, 2010, EMRS
1 attended to 190 incidents transporting 120 patients to various hospitals.
Now realising that KwaZulu Natal is the holiday destination of choice, we have decided to be pro active by coming up with the Alpha Operation plan that will target accident prone areas. The main objective for Alpha Operation is to:
Provide rapid and effective response to all incidents within KZN and its immediate borders,
Improve access to EMRS services by allocating ambulances on the strategic points on major routes
Increase EMRS visibility for public confidence.
Ensure participation to a collaborative effort with road traffic inspectorate to reduce deaths on our roads
Work towards achieving optimal health status for all persons in the our province during and beyond Easter Holidays
Working in conjunction with the Transport Department (Road Traffic Inspectorate) we have identified the peak days for traffic that come with the increased demand for emergency medical services.
As a Department we are thus committing to provide the road users and all the visitors a high level of pre-hospital care by the properly trained and dedicated ambulance personnel. There will be 49
2 additional ambulances per shift allocated to the strategic points through out the province.
Target dates for the Amplified Operations are:
• 21st April 2011 (Travelling Day) • 22nd April 2011 (Good Friday) • 25th April 2011 (Family Day) • 26th April 2011 (School Holiday) • 27th April 2011 (Freedom Day) • 29th April 2011 (Travelling Day) • 01st May 2011 (Workers Day) • 02nd May 2011 (Public Holiday) • 03rd May 2011 (Travelling Day)
Strategic Points have been indentified as:
DC 21 Ugu Park Rynie Hibberdene Port Edward N2-R21 - iZingolweni Uvongo DC22 uMgungundlovu N3 - New England Road N3 - Mooi Plaza
3 N3 - Tweedie Off Ramp N3 - South Coast Interchange
DC23 uThukela N3 -Van Reenen N3 - Bergville Engine One Stop N3 - Shell Ultra City
DC24 • R 68 - NDH Crossing • Babanango Road • Pomeroy SAPS • R33 – Seven Oaks/Fairways
DC25 • N11 - Sunset Rest (Ladysmith) • N11 - iCrafti • R34 - Utrecht (Caltex Garage) • Hattangspruit
DC26 Zululand • R33/R69 - Ulundi/Vryheid/Melmoth • R33/R34 - Vryheid / Melmoth • R66/R618 - Nongoma / Vryheid / Ulundi • R66/N2 - Pongola /Mkuze/ Nongoma
4 • R33 - Paulpietersburg/Vryheid
DC27 UMkhanyakude • N2 - Mtubatuba / St Lucia • N2 - Hluhluwe • N2 - Mkhuze • N2 - Mbazwana / Sodwana • Bhambanana • Phelandaba
DC28 uThungulu • N2/R66 - Dokodweni • R34/R66 - Nkwaleni • R66/R68 - Melmoth / Babanango • N2 - Mthunzini Plaza • N2/R34 - Richards bay / John Ross
DC29 ILembe • N2 - Umvoti Toll • N2 - Ballito • Westbrook Beach • N2 - King Shaka International Airport
DC 43 Sisonke • N2/R56 - Kokstad
5 • R56/R612 - High Flats • R 617 - Bulwer
Unicity eThekwini • N2/N3 -Spaghetti Junction • N2 - Gateway • N3 - Marrianhill Toll Plaza • N2/M4 - Arbor Mall • N2 - Umgababa Shell Garage
The World Health Day was dedicated to all healthcare workers in this province and today, I want to reiterate our gratitude and thanks to you for your dedication to this calling. You are the face of the public health system and an entry point to the various services we offer. On this day, I wish to call on the people of the province to wish your families very Happy Easters.
Whilst you offer your services to the well being of our citizens and visitors; I also want to call on every citizen to make this holiday season accident free! To the nurses and doctors who will be working long hours, our prayers are with you and your families. The love of those close to you will keep you stronger. Your contribution does not go unnoticed. Basibambisane ekulethene usizo olugcono nolushesheyo kumphakathi wakithi!
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