Cape Town- First responders in green uniforms received a special thank you and message of appreciation on National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Day.
More than 60 spirited EMS staffers gathered at the College of Emergency Care at Tygerberg Hospital yesterday, where representatives from the provincial Health and Wellness Department conveyed a special message of encouragement and appreciation to staffers.
The day was formally launched by the then health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize on October 17, 2019.
EMS staffer Malibongwe Sikateni from George said it was the unique nature of EMS to run towards danger and not away from it in order to put to use the skill acquired to save lives.
Cape Town Critical Care team manager Bradley Klein said: “We go out and we serve the community. We don’t know if we’re coming back in the evening and that is the reality of the work that we do.
“But it’s a sense of pride and a sense of accomplishment knowing that when we leave our families behind now, we go and serve the greater community of the Western Cape, knowing very well that we are definitely saving someone’s life today, whether it’s from the tiniest little baby to the oldest mom or grandmom. It’s someone’s life that will be affected by this uniform that we wear today.”
Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo said that it was sometimes forgotten that the first contact with the health system was through EMS, as the spotlight was often shone on those at health facilities.
Mbombo said the province did not have enough EMS staff. “And in the metro, with the violence, interpersonal violence, it means that there is a need to have more. They are the ones to be called, even when the patient is already dead.”
Attacks on EMS staffers added further pressure as staffers took off to attend the necessary counselling.
“In most cases, these are the young people, young girls who have to drive long distances at night and in addition to that, they’re supposed to prevent injuries to patients.”
The attacks on EMS resulted in the most vulnerable in society being impacted.