The IFP calls for an end to threats to healthcare workers, especially emergency healthcare workers in local community conflicts, following the attack that happened in Mandeni where an ambulance was shot at by unknown people.
“Threats and harassment of healthcare workers is a worrying factor that is occurring at community level. These professionals are taking personal risks to provide critical medical care, but have been threatened by physical violence and intimidation. Doctors, nurses and other health workers must be allowed to carry out their life-saving humanitarian work free of threat of violence and insecurity. These emergency service providers will not be able to concentrate and provide optimum health care if they have to work under threat,” said IFP Spokesperson on Health, Mrs Ncamisile Nkwanyana, MPL.
“We need a multi-pronged approach that will involve the police, ward committees and policing forums to ensure that emergency service providers are not at risk in performing their duties. Local communities must also ensure that their environments are free of criminal elements that prevent them from getting emergency services when needed. It is not possible to deliver emergency services easily in an insecure environment. In fact, we go further than that and say that security is an absolute prerequisite for emergency service providers,” concluded Mrs Nkwanyana.
The IFP believes that the threat to emergency service providers is so serious that it calls on government to consider utilising the armed forces to protect these critical personnel while they save lives and treat patients all over our province.
Issued by:
Mrs Ncamisile Nkwanyana MPL,
IFP Spokesperson on Health, 084 736 5183 / 078 302 3991
For Media Enquiries:
IFP KZN Legislature Media Liaison Officer, Mr Phendulani Biyase, 073 024 5675