IFP wants government to put people’s lives first
Calls for action to fight coronavirus
THE IFP has called for the KZN Department of Health to put the lives of the people first and launch an urgent campaign aimed at educating all citizens about the deadly coronavirus.
The party’s KZN Provincial spokesperson on health, Ncamisile Nkwanyana said there was an urgent need for an intensified, fully-fledged campaign, following the announcement by Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize, that four additional people from the group of South Africans who travelled to Italy have tested positive for coronavirus.
She said the campaign must be extended to schools, churches, taxi ranks, train stations, shopping malls and to all public spaces.
‘No one should be exempted from being educated and prepared about coronavirus. To help address this threat, we recommend that the KZN Department of Health must distribute posters, leaflets and text messages to increase knowledge and understanding of the disease.
‘Health care workers should be well trained on early detention and preventative measures. All public hospitals and clinics should be equipped with testing points and other equipment needed to control this deadly disease,’ she said.
Nkwanyana said they welcome the announcement by KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala that, Grey’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg, Manguzi Hospital, Ngwelezana and Addington Hospital have been identified to manage all suspected coronavirus cases in the province.
‘However, we remain concerned that many districts like Harry Gwala, Ugu, Uthukela and others in KZN have been left out of this programme.
‘Measures to track and identify this virus should be accessible to people in rural and township areas.
‘Everyone should be educated so that they can know the symptoms early and seek medical help. It is not only airports that must be prioritised to prepare for this fight. More needs to be done to fight this dreaded disease,’ she said.
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