The Mpumalanga Department of Health has revealed in their recent fourth-quarterly report that they have only 33 operational ambulances to service its population of 3.9 million.
According to their report, they purchased 35 ambulances in October 2019, but only 33 of those are operational. What happened to the other two?
The department has also reported that they are in a process of purchasing 67 additional ambulances and will therefore then have 100 operational ambulances.
What concerns the Democratic Alliance (DA) is that Health MEC Sasekani Manzini confirmed in April 2019 that a total of 178 ambulances were operational to respond to any emergencies in the province. What has happened to these ambulances if only 33 are currently operational? It seems that the province has lost 81% of its operational ambulances in 12 months.
With a population of 3.9 million and 33 operational ambulances it means the province has only 1 ambulance per 120 303 people who are dependent on public health.
It is no wonder that with only 33 ambulances to service 76 495 square kilometers of the Mpumalanga province these vehicles do not last.
Although the MEC stated that the department is in the process of procuring a further 67 ambulances to increase the fleet to 100 this is still too little for such a vast and rural province.
It appears that MEC Manzini is unable to turn the ever-struggling EMS department around as they are still struggling with chronic staff shortages,
The DA has today submitted parliamentary questions to the MEC to ascertain what happened to the other 145 ambulances in the last 12 months.
The DA will also write to Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane asking for her to intervene as Mpumalanga cannot afford to have a provincial emergency medical service department which cannot deliver on its mandate.
This situation must be rectified urgently.