President pleased with provincial efforts so far to battle pandemic
MBOMBELA - As part of the response to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, the provincial government has developed a three-point strategy.
Government’s plans were outlined during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to Mbombela this past Friday. This was part of his national drive to assess how provinces are responding to the pandemic.
According to Mpumalanga premier, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, “With the gradual easing of social restrictions and the incorporation of the adjusted risk strategy to reopen economic activity, we have seen a surge in the number of infections, with Mpumalanga cases projected to peak in the latter part of July.
“This has necessitated the development of a strategy that will focus on the control and management of the exponential increase in the rate of infections.”
Mtshweni-Tsipane added, “To this effect, the province has developed a strategy based on three pillars, which are primary prevention (pre-surge), secondary intervention (peak surge) and postCovid-19 aftermath (post-surge).
“The primary prevention pillar (pre-surge pillar) of the strategy seeks to promote health and behavioural change among the communities in the province. Furthermore, the strategic objective of this approach is to interrupt and contain the spread of Covid-19 through the establishment of
402 ward-based containment teams under the leadership of ward councillors. This will deploy a wall-to-wall strategy across all wards in Mpumalanga.”
She said local government has also been in constant communication with the Kingdom of eSwatini and Mozambican governments to promote the integrated management of cross-border cases by augmenting the existing memoranda of understanding between these countries.
“We have also launched the Siyayinqoba Sisonke app in order to relay a single message, advocating behavioural change across the province,” Mtshweni-Tsipane stated.
Ramaphosa said he was satisfied with the efforts made by the province so far in the fight against the pandemic.
“I am pleased with your response strategy. I am also glad that you have identified key priority areas that are meant to manage the health crisis, which is obviously the key area we need to focus on at all fronts.
“I am happy that the province intends to protect vulnerable people with all the intervention programmes in place,” said Ramaphosa.
He and his entourage visited the Mattafinbased Cyril Clarke School and Rob Ferreira Hospital.
‘I am glad that you have identified key priority areas that are meant to manage the health crisis, which is obviously the key area we need to focus on at all fronts’