'The situation is dire and people are dying': Fana Mokoena voices concerns over Covid-19 surge in KZN
Former EFF MP Fana Mokoena has voiced concern over the shortage of intensive care unit (ICU) beds and ventilators in KwaZulu-Natal, urging citizens to be vigilant.
Taking to Twitter this week, Mokoena urged people in the province to take extra care of themselves because hospitals have no capacity.
According to Mokoena, front-line workers in towns like Pietermaritzburg, Ladysmith and Newcastle reported the shortage.
“KZN has absolutely no ICU beds for Covid-19 patients. No more doctors to augment. The situation in KZN is dire and people are dying because there are no ventilators. If you’re still in KZN. Be vigilant and take extra care,” he said.
“Hospitals in KZN are so full even private hospitals have no capacity. The hospital in Mhlanga has makeshift facilities in the parking lot and even that has not been enough.”
KZN has ABSOLUTELY no ICU beds for COVID-19 patients. No more doctors to augment. The situation in KZN is dire and people are dying because there are no ventilators. If you’re still in KZN. Be vigilant and take extra care
— Vezuchiy Fanashnikov (@fanamokoena) January 4, 2021
Hospitals in KZN are so full even private hospitals have no capacity. The hospital in Mhlanga has makeshift facilities in the parking lot and even that has not been enough. Neighboring towns in PMB, Ladysmith Newcastle, frontline workers are reporting the same to us. Be vigilant
— Vezuchiy Fanashnikov (@fanamokoena) January 4, 2021
Mokoena slammed corruption in government, saying KwaZulu-Natal will be “brought to its knees” because of it.
The makeshift facility at Mhlanga private hospital in Durban taken a few minutes ago. pic.twitter.com/Rwdr25plEY
— Vezuchiy Fanashnikov (@fanamokoena) January 4, 2021
On Tuesday, TimesLIVE reported that Durban community organisation Muslims for Humanity set up a 20-bed treatment area on the grounds of an overwhelmed Ahmed Al-Kadi Hospital after the facility appealed for help.
The hospital needed to urgently set up a Covid-19 reception and receiving facility after critically ill patients were forced to wait in their cars as the demand for beds increased.
Netcare Group also expressed “extreme concern” over the surge in Covid-19 infections in KwaZulu-Natal, saying it has placed unprecedented demand on its facilities.
Other provinces that are also seeing a surge in infections include Limpopo and the Western Cape.
“We expect this demand to continue in Limpopo and the Western Cape for at least the next two weeks, but unfortunately to increase in KwaZulu-Natal over the same period. Fortunately, we have seen a reduction in cases in the Eastern Cape,” said Netcare.
According to Netcare CEO, Richard Friedland, in the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, the number of patients admitted to hospitals far exceeds that experienced in the first wave of the pandemic.
Friedland said Netcare had substantially increased its oxygen capacity at all hospitals and urgently recalled all front-line staff from leave.
South Africa Durban community body sets up 20-bed facility for overwhelmed hospital within hours 3 years ago |
South Africa Netcare sees 'alarming rise in admissions' of Covid-19 patients at hospitals 3 years ago |
South Africa Netcare hospital group recalls front-line staff from leave, boosts oxygen supply 3 years ago |