The Portfolio Committee on Health welcomes the report by the Minister of Health, Dr Aron Motsoaledi that South Africa together with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) does not have cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD).
It was said further the country is also ready to deal with the disease should the need arise.
During a meeting in Johannesburg on Tuesday night, Minister Motsoaledi told the Committee that South Africans should not panic.
He said the disease was widely spread in the three West African countries; Guinea, with 362 laboratory confirmed cases and 231 deaths; Liberia, with 158 confirmed cases and 132 deaths; and Sierra Leone, with 656 confirmed cases and 259 deaths.
Minister Motsoaledi added that there were sporadic EVD cases in Nigeria, with two deaths and 13 people suspected to be infected.
The Committee is pleased that the Department of Health has identified 11 hospitals that will be able to treat EVD across the country.
The hospitals are: Polokwane Hospital in Limpopo, Rob Ferreira Hospital in Mpumalanga, Charlotte Maxeke and Steve Biko Hospitals in Gauteng, Addington Hospital in KwaZulu Natal, Kleksdorp Hospital in North West, Pelonomi Hospital in Free State, Kimberly Hospital in Northern Cape, Frere and Livingstone Hospitals in Eastern Cape, and Tygerberg Hospital in Western Cape.
“It’s inspiring to know that South Africa and the SADC region are not affected by EVD as it was falsely reported by some sections of the media. This gives us confidence to go back and share this information with the public in our respective constituencies,” said Committee Chairperson Ms Lindelwa Dunjwa.
