New clinic for EL Airport on the cards

THE East London Airport will soon have a fully-equipped clinic for staff and passengers.

The airport will get the clinic as part of the Airports Company South Africa’s endeavours to ensure primary healthcare services are available at all of its airports.

Such services are already available at some airports such as the O R Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Currently, there is only a sick room for staff at the East London Airport, which is one of four that will soon be renamed.

Acsa corporate affairs senior manager Senzeni Ndebele this week said the establishment of the clinic was part of the company’s provision of occupational health.

“Employees are required to undergo medical assessments at certain intervals in line with occupational risk exposures to ensure that exposure to stressors is monitored, reported and mitigated proactively to prevent adverse ill-health and injuries to employees.

“For this reason, Acsa identified the need to have onsite facilities at all airports so that the medical services are coordinated and provided to all employees,” she said. “The clinic services will also be available for medical emergency services for Acsa stakeholder, passengers and visitors to the airport.”

However, Ndebele would not say when the clinic at the East London Airport would be opened.

“Acsa must still follow the necessary procedures to ensure that the clinic becomes operational.

“Acsa has, through a competitive bid process, appointed a Health Professions Council of South Africa registered service provider to render occupational healthcare services at its airports,” she said.

Ndebele said it was anticipated that the clinic would be operated by one nurse and an occupational medical practitioner would visit the facility once a week.

The primary services offered will be:

● Medical surveillance which include pre-employment, periodic, transfer and exit medicals;

● Monitoring of primary health conditions to staff and airport users;

● Management of injury on duty; and

● Case management. Ndebele stressed that the clinic would not be open to communities around the airport. —