SANDF

The South African Military Health Service (SAMHS) is this afternoon withdrawing from the 73 hospitals in eight provinces it had been assisting to offset the impact of a four-week long public sector strike. By yesterday military medics were assisting patients at 18 hospitals in Mpumalanga, 14 in Limpopo, 11 in Gauteng, eight in the North West, seven in the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal, six in the Eastern Cape, and two in the Northern Cape.

The South African Military Health Service (SAMHS) is this morning deployed at 73 hospitals in eight provinces, up 11 from Friday. The military health service is assisting patients at 18 hospitals in Mpumalanga – up four since Friday, 14 in Limpopo, 11 in Gauteng, eight in the North West, seven in the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal, six in the Eastern Cape, and two in the Northern Cape.

The South African Military Health Service (SAMHS) is this morning deployed at 62 hospitals in eight provinces. The military health service is assisting patients at 14 hospitals in Mpumalanga and in Gauteng, seven in the North West, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal, nine in Limpopo three in the Eastern Cape and two in the Northern Cape.

The South African Military Health Service (SAMHS) is this morning deployed at 62 hospitals in eight provinces. The military health service is assisting patients at 14 hospitals in Mpumalanga and in Gauteng, seven in the North West, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal, nine in Limpopo three in the Eastern Cape and two in the Northern Cape.

The Department of Defence's head of communication, Siphiwe Dlamini has said that depending on the request, a medical team may consist of doctors, nurses and emergency health care practitioners known as “ops medics”. The SAMHS has also deploying personnel to assist with the cleaning of the hospitals.

Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Lindiwe Sisulu on Sunday said some 3500 military personnel were deployed at the time at over 50 hospitals. In addition to medical staff infantry have also been deployed to provide perimeter security and access control. Public service strikes in SA tend to be violent with intimidation and other acts of callousness common.

The current deployment is the third since June 2007. In June-July 2007, the SAMHS deployed about 2500 personnel to over 80 hospitals in all nine provinces during a bitter nurses' strike. The effort, dubbed Operation Human/Bata, received great public acclaim at the time. In June-July last year, the SAMHS deployed over 500 medics as part of Operation Human/Bata 2 in KZN, Gauteng, the Free State, the North West, Mpumalanga and Limpopo.

In Gauteng, the SAMHS is now deployed at the Natalspruit, Chris Hani Baragwanath, Helen Joseph, Kalafong, George Mukhari, Steve Biko, Tshwane District, Mamelodi, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child, Tembisa, Pretoria West, Heidelberg hospitals and Weskoppies hospital.

In the North West, the SAMHS are at the Brits, Bophelong (Mafikeng), Rustenburg/JT Tabane, Vryburg and Schweizer-Reineke, Odi and Potchefstroom hospitals.

In KwaZulu-Natal, the SAMHS are at the King Edward VIII, Mahatma Ghandi Memorial, Prince Mshiyeni, Stanger, Chief Albert Luthuli, Dundee and Ladysmith hospitals.

In the Eastern Cape, the SAMHS are at the Dora Nzinga, Livingstone and Cecilia Makiwane hospitals.

In Limpopo, the SAMHS are at the Van Velden, Polokwane, Jane Furse, St Rita’s, Maphutha-Malatji and Lephalale, Helen Franz, Letaba, Elim, Lebowakgomo hospitals.

In Mpumalanga, the SAMHS are deployed at Witbank, Tonga, KwaMhalanga, Mapulaneng, Rob Ferreira, Ermelo, Themba, Barberton, Lydenburg, Middelburg, Embhuleni, Amajuba, Sabie and Standerton hospitals.

In the Free State, the SAMHS are deployed at the Bongani, Katlego, Pelonomi, Boitumelo, Manapo, National and Dihlabeng hospitals.

In the Northern Cape, the SAMHS are deployed at the Kimberley and Gordonia hospitals. The Western Cape still remains the only province which is not recieving assistance.

Dlamini adds that to assist non-striking health care workers at hospitals the Department of Defence has created a toll-free number where they can report intimidation incidents when they are threatened. The number that people can dial is 0800 86 44 69.