Issued by National Ministry of Health
17 March 2010
A delegation from the National Department of Health, Local Organising Committee (LOC) and South African Military Health Services (SAMS) conducted an inspection of health and medical facilities in Mpumalanga in preparation for Fifa World Cup due for kickoff in 85 days on 11 June 2010.
This is the eight and the last province to be visited since the Deputy Minister of Health Dr Molefi Sefularo started the fact-finding mission on 03 Feb 2010 in Limpopo.
Leading the delegation in the absence of Dr Sefularo who is in Uganda for the 3rd Annual Africa Breast Cancer Conference is the National Ministry’s adviser Dr Confidence Moloko, National 2010 health co-ordinator Mr Pumzile Kedama and LOC Medical co-ordinator Dr Victor Ramathesele.
The delegation was received by provincial government representatives and 3 MECs including MEC of Health and Social Development in Mpumalanga Ms Dikeledi Mahlangu, MEC of Safety and Security and Liaison Ms Sibongile Manana, and MEC of Cooperative Government and Traditional Affairs Mr Norman Mokoena.
The programme started at 09h00 with a presentation by Barberton Hospital CEO Ms Thembani Mokoena on hospital readiness, and included the inspection of services in the trauma unit and wards. This was followed by a provincial 2010 co-ordinator Dr Memory Muturiki and assessment of the Emergency Medical Centre (EMS) and including viewing some of the 50 new ambulances and other emergency vehicles. The delegation proceeded to Themba Hospital and ended at Mbombela Stadium with an inspection of the VIP medical centre, spectators’ medical centre, players’ medical centre and doping centre.
On the 08-09 February 2010 during a national workshop to review progress on readiness, this Mpumalanga province identified a number of challenges and gaps needing fine-tuning.
A plan with timelines was developed by the workshop to unlock the blockages. A contingency plan for hospitals which included the twinning of services between neighbouring provinces was also recommended. Mpumalanga was twinned with Gauteng, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal.
As a group they were given a task to finalise the following:-
To date, 17 March 2010, the province has worked with speed and managed to close some of the gaps with regard to infrastructure and port of entries working together with counterparts in SAMHS. Training of health professionals in relevant 2010 courses have been initiated and well under-way, and about 80% of medical equipment have been delivered. The stadium medical rooms are currently being equipped and most of the 50 emergency medical vehicles have been delivered.
In Mpumalanga, nine (9) public hospitals and 5 private hospitals have been designated for Fifa World Cup. They include Rob Ferreira, Themba, Middleburg, Barberton, Witbank, Nelspruit CHC and Evander public hospitals.
The private sector has identified Nelspruit Medi-clinic, Barberton Medi-Clinic, Midmed Hospital, Cosmos Hospital and Trichard Medi-Clinic.
Operational plans have been completed and ready for the emergency medical services:
For the stadium:
For Fan Park:
For Public Viewing Areas:
For Ports of Entry:
Land border post
For training grounds:
We are pleased with the progress that has been made by the province to address their challenges and gaps.
Mr Pumzile Kedama
National 2010 Coordinator for the Department of Health
Media enquiries: Charity Bhengu 083 679 7424 (national spokesperson).