Members of the Gauteng Emergency Medical Services (EMS) endure numerous challenges in the workplace including among others, danger and emerging criminal attacks against paramedics not to mention violence and harassment when dealing with hostile patients.
In response to these challenges, the Gauteng Department of Health will launch the Gauteng Wellness on Wheels (GWoW) bus to strengthen existing wellness support programmes (emotional, financial and mental) to improve employee morale and outreach support in Van der Bijl Street in Westonaria at 09:00 on August 25.
In a statement issued by the department, GWoW will provide much-needed on-the-go support services to EMS personnel fondly called the Green Angels.
“Employees will receive regular health screenings, check-ups and counselling in the field, particularly after experiencing a traumatic ordeal such as violent attacks and hijackings. GWoW has two compartments of which the first one is an admin and vital signs section, and the other is a consultation room which is soundproofed to ensure privacy,” said Tshepo Shawa, spokesperson for the MEC for Health and Wellness.
In addition, the Gauteng EMS will also launch a mobile classroom bus to enhance employee training and development. The training that will be provided in the mobile classroom will improve performance and patient experience of care, among other key areas.
“The mobile classroom is equipped with a projector, desks and sound system that will also be used during public education programmes such as the First Responder Training, safety workshops and for on-site meetings where office space is not available, especially during disasters”
According to the MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, the interventions are a demonstration that employee health and wellness and training and development remain a priority for the department.
“Through the introduction of GWoW, we will be able to provide counselling and physical wellness checks to our EMS personnel on the spot when they are needed, while the mobile classroom will ensure that our emergency personnel are always armed with cutting-edge skills to enable them to offer the best possible service to the people of Gauteng,” said Nkomo-Ralehoko.
