End of booze ban will affect vulnerable

THE Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa) is fearful that the lifting of the ban on alcohol will see South African health-care facilities dealing with an influx of emergencies in many clinics and casualty/trauma units nationwide, which will be competing heavily with the country’s preparation for Covid-19 peak period.

Denosa is concerned because many fights, stabbings and car accidents on weekends after alcohol consumption often lead to admission of patients, and many beds that could be reserved for virus patients will be taken by cases related to consumption of alcohol.

During the national lockdown under levels and 5 and 4, respectively, nurses in facilities have observed a tremendous decrease in emergency cases brought to casualty/trauma units and in clinics and, by implication, fewer admissions into intensive care units. This atmosphere augured well for a country that is experiencing a steady increase of Covid-19 infections daily and heading for a peak.

With the start of lockdown under level 3 from June 1, and the lifting of the alcohol ban, the level of calmness and speedy processing of patients will again be a thing of the past.

Denosa is concerned that gender-based violence (GBV) will increase. Regrettably,GBV will go unpunished in areas where law enforcement is poor.

Lifting the ban may have positive spin-offs for the economy, but the vulnerable in our society are likely to pay the heavy prize for this decision, especially if it is not well-thought through and its consequences not mitigated.

CASSIM LEKHOATHI | Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa