By Kaya 959 Reporter
The Gauteng Health Department has condemned at least two attacks on healthcare workers in recent days.
Gauteng Health spokesperson, Kwara Kekana, says on Saturday, a vaccination team was robbed in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria.
Kekana says five armed men in a white Toyota Quantum robbed the team at gunpoint at the Wonder City Taxi Rank.
“The perpetrators fled with vaccination programme gadgets which consist of three tablets, one smartphone and six cellphones belonging to the team,” she said.
In another incident last week, a West Rand Health District Services bakkie was hijacked with mobile site equipment and gazebos in Kagiso.
Kekana says the incidents were reported to the Soshanguve and Kagiso police and both matters are under investigation.
“Fortunately no team members were harmed in both cases and counselling will be provided to the affected staff,” she says.
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Almost 100 reported EMS attacks
The department says these senseless acts occurred at a time when the province is ramping up the vaccination programme.
Officials have been activating more vaccination sites in all the districts in order to vaccinate as many people as possible.
Kekana says healthcare workers remain the backbone of the health system. She says they continue to play a pivotal role in the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme.
“We call on all members of society to work with law enforcement agencies and to share any information they might have on the two incidents,” Kekana says.
The Health and Other Services Personnel Trade Union of South Africa reports that there have been a number of attacks on medical workers across the country.
“There have been close to 100 reported EMS attacks in South Africa this year, with fears that this number will increase during the festive season. According to reports, EMS attacks in South Africa are on a rise especially in Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal,” says Hospersa General Secretary, Waheed Hoosen.
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