MEC laments burden of alcohol on health system

PROVINCIAL Health MEC Dr Nomafrench Mbombo said that violence, trauma and alcohol had a devastating effect on the province’s health system.

The festive season posed a range of challenges to the health system. Crashes kept the emergency medical and forensic pathology services busy while staff at emergency centres had to bear the brunt of an additional burden of injury-related cases fuelled by violence and alcohol abuse.

Speaking at a media briefing at Groote Schuur Hospital, Mbombo said that during the festive season over 30 000 emergency cases were transported to hospitals by medical services and of these, 23% (8 069) were as a result of patients sustaining injuries which ranged from violent trauma such as stabbings and gunshots to physical and interpersonal violence.

She added that of the 8 069 cases, the top three causes were assault with a weapon (2 894); physical assault (956) and accidental injury (864).

“Western Cape government health facilities deal with way more than what they are designed for.

“This is a call to the public to consider these facts, especially how the personal choice to consume alcohol irresponsibly not only impacts the individual, but robs other patients of much-needed medical attention.”

But the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union provincial secretary Eric Khweleta said: “She must deal with the real issues: understaffed clinics and long queues.

“People with chronic diseases are forced to wait for hours at the clinics because we don’t have enough nurses. As a minister she can do more.”

Meanwhile, the EFF in the Western Cape have called on Mbombo to provide more medication to clinics.

EFF regional secretary Melikhaya Xhego said: “The minister is not addressing the real problem if she doesn’t do anything about the shortage of medication. We have marched a number of times trying to draw the attention of the health department to the problem. We can’t blame the staff, they are working hard, but the clinics are understaffed.”

She must deal with the real issues: understaffed clinics and long queues Eric Khweleta

Nehawu provincial secretary