Premier Makhurasays nothing about concrete steps to ready Gauteng Health capacity
12 January 2021
After weeks of silence from the Gauteng Provincial Government, Premier Makhura’s address today did nothing to instil hope or confidence in the Province’s ability to handle its own 2nd wave of infections, leaving the impression that it is woefully unprepared.
It has been clear for some time that Gauteng will experience a spike of infections that is likely to exceed that of any other province due to is festive season migratory pattern and its densely populated nature.
What was needed in Makhura’s address today, was a list of interventions that have been made to increase the capacity of Gauteng’s health facilities to handle this spike, including the provision of additional hospital beds, ventilators and oxygen tanks, and increased staff capacity in healthcare facilities. Today’s address by the Premier barely made reference to any intervention in any of these critical measures.
Of greatest concern is that revelation that the Gauteng Provincial Government, between June 2020 and January 2021, was only able to produce an additional 508 critical care beds. The Premier’s promise of additional beds by the end of January demonstrates the lack of planning for Gauteng’s 2nd wave.