‘Fixing potholes will stretch ambulance lifespan’

POLOKWANE – Operation Thiba Mekoti Ditseleng, which was implemented by the Department of Roads, has fallen on welcome ears at the provincial Health Department given the effect of the province’s pothole-ridden roads have on ambulances.

This is according to Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba, who said although they procure ambulances from the provincial government annually, the roads on which these new ambulances travel frequently are a nightmare.

Operation Thiba Mekoti Ditseleng aims to repair potholes across the province, including the Capricorn district.

“The premier’s office ensures that we get 50 ambulances annually but they are almost all damaged within the next few financial years,” she says.

Also read: WATCH: Health Dept receives 25 new ambulances

Ramathuba asked that locals do not compare the conditions in urban provinces with rural Limpopo.

The lifespan of an ambulance in Gauteng should not be compared to that in Limpopo, she said.

“The road infrastructure in our province comes with potholes and it reduces the quality of our vehicles each day, while Gauteng has better functioning roads and traffic lights to help avoid accidents and so on,” she said.

Another factor is the proximity of primary to secondary hospitals in the province, which means ambulances travel on less well-developed infrastructure.

The MEC admits that in some instances, there is a slower response by emergency vehicles due to the disparity between where an ambulance would be coming from and where it would be expected to travel.

“The furthest an ambulance can often travel in Gauteng is roughly 50km, which does not really happen as there are many central hospitals in each of these two cities. On the other hand, our ambulances cover many kilometers because hospitals are situated far apart. One can travel from Thabazimbi to Polokwane and back, while another travels from Polokwane to Musina and back,” she explains.

Polokwane resident Martin Headger believes there is not enough reason to justify the loss of life, especially relating to why the government fails to provide swift medical assistance.

He shared his experience with Polokwane Observer: “From the age of 10, when I lost my brother to asthma because of slow, inefficient service, it’s been a sore point. When we needed to get my father to the hospital when he was in a state where he couldn’t even sit anymore, the only option we had was to call an ambulance.

“The operator told me that not a single ambulance was available across the entire city because they were not roadworthy, it took me to a place of concern for those in need of urgent medical care and losing their lives. We had to make use of a private ambulance service to get my father to the hospital. I am very disappointed at the level of service that the department of health offers patients – especially because there are people with limited to no income, they are elderly and sickly, and all they need is a bit of help, that could save their lives,” Headger concludes.