Health facilities advised to be ready for blackouts

By Tina George
23 January 2008

The first meeting of the Policy Committee of the National Health Council of the year was held by the Minister and MECs for Health in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni on Monday.

Various health issues, including draft priorities for 2008 were discussed.

“Challenges posed by the ongoing electricity load-shedding in the delivery of health services in the country were reflected on,” says Department of Health spokesperson, Sibani Mgadi.

The NHC advised health facility managers to ensure that hospital services are not excessively affected especially in critical clinical areas where patient life-support medical equipment is installed.

The heads of provincial health departments are asked to ensure that all hospitals and health facilities are equipped with stand-by generators.

Mgadi added that these generators should be well maintained and should have the necessary capacity to generate power needed to ensure that life-supporting equipment can provide continuous support to patients.

Provinces are requested to conduct audits of all health facilities and compile status reports.

“Each province where stand-by generators have either not been installed or are not in good condition to meet the needs of patient life-support systems should be reported to the health department,” says Mgadi.