As South Africa heads into the eye of the Covid-19 storm, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has admitted that the bed capacity in the country could be insufficient as the country heads towards its peak.
On a presentation to the Portfolio on Health of the Free State Legislature on 4 June 2020, the Department of Health in the Free State gave an optimistic projection that by 1 August 2020, the province will need 3886 hospital beds and 1080 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds. The Department also cited that part of its “Level 3 Lockdown Plan” is to prepare hospitals and field beds.
On 1 July 2020, I submitted a question to the MEC of Health in the Free State requesting what the anticipated date of completion of the field hospitals are and how many beds will be available by 1 August 2020. My question has still not yet been responded to by the MEC.
Surprisingly, on 7 July 2020, a week after my question was submitted, the Free State Provincial Government issued a statement that the Provincial Coronavirus Command Council (PCCC), led by the Premier of the Free State, Sisi Ntombela, will visit the Bloemfontein Showgrounds, to assess the venue as a possible site for a field hospital. This is alarming as there are only 3 weeks left before the 1 August deadline strikes and the PCCC are only now assessing the premises. At the assessment, the Premier conceded that “…we are little bit worried…” and that the Free State plans to have 7000 fully equipped beds for Covid-19.
One of the reasons for the hard lockdown was for the Provincial Health Departments to prepare for when the country reaches its peak, yet the Department of Health in the Free State are dragging their feet to adequately prepare the healthcare infrastructure in province.
It remains clear that only the DA governed province of the Western Cape heeded the call and has the capacity to prepare for what is to come. As of 30 June 2020, the Western Cape province boasts a staggering 44 activated facilities with 4 672 available beds and an additional 182 facilities are ready for activation when they may be required. These facilities jointly comprise of 9 670 beds. This is clearly a government that cares and works for the people.
The DA will continue to conduct oversight and monitor this situation, as the greatest strength any economy can have is a healthy population.