KWAZULU-Natal Health MEC, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo has encouraged the community to help protect paramedics by reporting any acts of crime against the health care workers.
This follows the attempted hijacking of an Emergency Medical Services crew at Slangspruit in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday, 11 February.
He said they were deeply concerned about the spate of incidents in recent months involving health care workers who leave their workplace to provide much-needed help, but instead fall victim to crime.
“If the public can be more alert and report any information to police about incidents that may have happened or those that are being planned, they can address this problem,” he said.
Garrith Jamieson from Rescue Care Paramedics, a Durban privately owned emergency medical service said one of their paramedics was attacked while on duty by a taxi driver in Smith Street recently.
“The paramedic noticed that the taxi was fully loaded but had a flat wheel. He informed him and proceeded on Smith Street. At the traffic light on Smith Street and Park Street, the taxi driver got out of his vehicle with two others and assaulted the paramedic.”
“They stabbed him on the forearm with a broken bottle and hit him with a sjambock multiple times. The paramedic sustained serious injuries and had to go into theatre as a result of the stab wound. The attackers then fled the scene,” said Jamieson.
Following the incident, cameras have been installed into all Rescue Care vehicles with live streaming and recording facilities.
“We have installed a panic button as well per vehicle so staff can push it in time of need.”
