Nehawu: Govt must prepare health facilities for fourth wave

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday evening that the country will remain on lockdown level 1 despite the emergence of a new variant, dubbed Omicron.

While more studies are being conducted on the new variant, it has been blamed for the spike in infections in Gauteng.

Nehawu national spokesperson Lwazi Nkolonzi says government must ensure there is enough personal protective equipment at hospitals.

“These measures should entail amongst others, the availability of personal protective equipment, procuring hospital beds, procuring oxygen points and ventilators and employing more healthcare workers including absorbing community healthcare workers.

“The government cannot afford to be underprepared and have a lacklustre response as in the previous waves. Our members and workers in the healthcare sector have experienced the worst of this pandemic, especially with the previous waves and government should effectively respond to this new variant and the fourth wave and not put workers lives in danger because of complacency and unpreparedness.”

Nkolonzi also believes the government is not doing enough to raise awareness about vaccines.

“Equally, we call on the government to accelerate the vaccination roll-out program to our people and further drive a comprehensive educational awareness program about the safety of vaccines in providing protection against severe illness, death and hospitalisation. This will also assist a great deal in dealing with the vaccine hesitancy that is prevalent amongst our people.”

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