Date: 17/10/2006
Source: Free State Provincial Government
Title: Belot: Opening of the Pelonomi Trauma Unit
Speech by the MEC for Health, Sakhiwo Belot, at the occasion of the official opening of the Pelonomi Regional Hospital, Bloemfontein
Programme Director
Honoured guests
Ladies and gentlemen
We are gathered here today to join the world in celebrating World Trauma Day. Today we also celebrate the fulfilment of a dream. Professor Theron has provided an interesting history of the development of traumatology in the Free State and I salute the visionary efforts and pioneer work done by this team since 1983.
Ladies and gentlemen the accident and emergency facilities in the Free State have increased dramatically and today, we are opening a state of the art, hi-tech world class facility. This new facility will provide a world class accident and emergency service to the community.
It is important that we look at the causes of trauma in our society. Poverty, underdevelopment, unemployment, social disruption and the disintegration of our social fabric are some of the main factors underlying many social challenges facing our communities in the Free State today, including violence and injury. The struggle for survival and competition for limited resources leads to various forms of anti-social behaviours including violent crimes.
The World Health Organisation estimates that in 2000 approximately 57 000 homicides took place among children under 15 years of age and in the same year over 1,6 million people lost their lives to violence worldwide. Road traffic accidents claim 1,2 million lives per year. They also injure or disable an estimated 20 and 50 million people per year.
Programme Director, it is clear from the aforementioned that violence is a growing public health concern. It poses a great challenge to the already burdened health system in terms of the increasing number of people with injuries presenting themselves at health facilities. A huge amount of resources goes towards rehabilitation, healing and overall management of survivors of injuries.
The national Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, made a commitment that South Africa would support the prioritisation of dialogue on injury prevention and safety promotion. South Africa had the honour of hosting the launch of the World Report on Violence and Health in 2002 and since then, numerous initiatives have been put in place to address this challenge.
In the Free State the Arrive Alive campaign aims at reducing the number of road traffic accidents by ensuring that unroadworthy vehicles are not allowed onto our roads, and by modifying the behaviour of road-users. One of the critical messages of this campaign is to highlight the risk of using the road while under the influence of alcohol for both motorists and pedestrians. As we are celebrating Transport Month in October, I need to remind all that a new licensing system has been introduced to ensure that drivers are skilled and they undergo regular eye-tests as a condition for holding a driver's licence.
Efforts are currently underway to replace the minibus taxis that I am sure you have noticed on our roads. Government has initiated a Taxi Recapitalisation programme which will lead to all these minibus taxis being replaced by safer and more comfortable types of vehicles. The Recapitalisation programme is part of the broader efforts of Government to improve our public transport system in the country.
It is estimated that up to 69% of women worldwide reported having suffered physical assault by an intimate male partner at some point in their lives. These figures highlight the major challenges that women still face in many parts of the world.
Here in South Africa, we speak of emancipation of women from triple oppression because the majority of women were oppressed on the basis of their race, class and gender. Our government has made deliberate efforts to improve the socio-economic status of women and to create gender equality. We provide comprehensive management for survivors of sexual assault, which includes appropriate medical care, social support and legal services to support survivors and bring perpetrators to book.
Government's interventions against violent crimes are bearing fruit with reduction in levels of crime being observed since the attainment of our democracy in 1994. Recently, the Institute of Security Studies released a report which indicated that serious crimes such as murder, attempted murder, car theft and hijacking are decreasing across the country. The report indicates that cases of murder decreased by 30% between 1994 and 2004 and it attributes this progress to better policing and more people being covered by the social security net, which has alleviated financial stress among the poor.
A number of interventions have been put in place to alleviate the plight of the poor including free primary healthcare and free health service for pregnant and lactating women, children under six years of age and people with disabilities. The number of people receiving social grants has increased significantly. There is free housing for the poor, about 3,9 million households receive free basic water and free basic electricity reaches 2,9 million households.
The report highlights the need to deal with drug related crimes and drunken driving. As government we are putting in place interventions against alcohol abuse. In addition to legal restrictions in terms of the sale of alcohol, we have included alcohol abuse as the main focus area in our Health Lifestyle programme.
Government is also working on regulations to introduce labelling of containers of alcoholic products with health warnings. Our aim is to raise awareness amongst our people about the harmful health and social effects of alcohol. Currently, our communities are bombarded by messages that encourage alcohol consumption. We have to ensure that there is some balance between the promotion of these products and the understanding of the negative effects of irresponsible drinking.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the need for an accident and emergency unit such as this one we are opening today is evident in the latest emergency statistics made available by the Department of Health. As an example, between the periods August 2005 to August 2006, 5 337 emergency assaults were reported and treated at Pelonomi Hospital; 110 gunshot patients and 2 252 patients were admitted for being involved in motor vehicle accidents. I need not remind us all about the devastating effects of irresponsible drinking on all our lives. Many of us have suffered loss due to this scourge or know somebody who has lost a loved one. In many cases, the survivors of traumatic incidents such as vehicle accidents, violent suicide attempts, or any other violence related incident lands up in the hands of the men and women working in our new accident and emergency unit.
The construction of the Pelonomi Accident and Emergency Unit started late in 2003 and a total investment of R18,3 million from the Revitalisation Fund was made. We purchased state of the art equipment to the value of R24 million. All in all, today this unit contributed R42,3 million to the local economy. Since operationalisation the unit has treated 1 108 trauma cases.
Programme Director, this world class facility treats all life-threatening cases referred here from all over the Free State, parts of the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Lesotho. Since Pelonomi Hospital was designated as a regional hospital rendering secondary services to the Southern Free State community in 1994, it is also rendering some tertiary services one of which was Trauma.
The unit has 100 beds, 14 of which are for high risk patients and an 18 bed Resuscitation area. The modern equipment found in the unit enables the personnel to render a very effective service. An example of this is the wireless monitoring system which enables the personnel to monitor patients at a central point.
The unit consists of a resuscitation area, trauma unit and trauma ward, high care unit, short stay ward (trauma A), reception area, trauma orthopaedics, waiting area, family room, theatre, procedure room, administrative wing, and a P.O.P (plaster of Paris) room. Two qualified doctors are also on duty 24 hours a day. The medical staff is supported by nursing staff that are trained in Trauma and critical care. Other disciplines such as Orthopaedics provide a 24 hour specialist service to the unit. The unit is accessible to handle all life threatening emergencies and major trauma patients referred here. I need to mention that only referred patients are treated here and walking-in patients are referred to the casualty department of the hospital. The unit is equipped with a fully functional helicopter pad and ambulance bay.
In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen this Unit is truly a remarkable achievement and I want to congratulate all who have worked so hard to ensure the completion of that project. I can assure you that the Unit is staffed with dedicated, highly trained healthcare professionals, and that the hi-tech equipment at their disposal is utilised appropriately. It is an honour to now declare this unit officially opened.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Health, Free State Provincial Government
17 October 2006
Source: Free State Provincial Government
Title: Belot: Opening of the Pelonomi Trauma Unit
Speech by the MEC for Health, Sakhiwo Belot, at the occasion of the official opening of the Pelonomi Regional Hospital, Bloemfontein
Programme Director
Honoured guests
Ladies and gentlemen
We are gathered here today to join the world in celebrating World Trauma Day. Today we also celebrate the fulfilment of a dream. Professor Theron has provided an interesting history of the development of traumatology in the Free State and I salute the visionary efforts and pioneer work done by this team since 1983.
Ladies and gentlemen the accident and emergency facilities in the Free State have increased dramatically and today, we are opening a state of the art, hi-tech world class facility. This new facility will provide a world class accident and emergency service to the community.
It is important that we look at the causes of trauma in our society. Poverty, underdevelopment, unemployment, social disruption and the disintegration of our social fabric are some of the main factors underlying many social challenges facing our communities in the Free State today, including violence and injury. The struggle for survival and competition for limited resources leads to various forms of anti-social behaviours including violent crimes.
The World Health Organisation estimates that in 2000 approximately 57 000 homicides took place among children under 15 years of age and in the same year over 1,6 million people lost their lives to violence worldwide. Road traffic accidents claim 1,2 million lives per year. They also injure or disable an estimated 20 and 50 million people per year.
Programme Director, it is clear from the aforementioned that violence is a growing public health concern. It poses a great challenge to the already burdened health system in terms of the increasing number of people with injuries presenting themselves at health facilities. A huge amount of resources goes towards rehabilitation, healing and overall management of survivors of injuries.
The national Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, made a commitment that South Africa would support the prioritisation of dialogue on injury prevention and safety promotion. South Africa had the honour of hosting the launch of the World Report on Violence and Health in 2002 and since then, numerous initiatives have been put in place to address this challenge.
In the Free State the Arrive Alive campaign aims at reducing the number of road traffic accidents by ensuring that unroadworthy vehicles are not allowed onto our roads, and by modifying the behaviour of road-users. One of the critical messages of this campaign is to highlight the risk of using the road while under the influence of alcohol for both motorists and pedestrians. As we are celebrating Transport Month in October, I need to remind all that a new licensing system has been introduced to ensure that drivers are skilled and they undergo regular eye-tests as a condition for holding a driver's licence.
Efforts are currently underway to replace the minibus taxis that I am sure you have noticed on our roads. Government has initiated a Taxi Recapitalisation programme which will lead to all these minibus taxis being replaced by safer and more comfortable types of vehicles. The Recapitalisation programme is part of the broader efforts of Government to improve our public transport system in the country.
It is estimated that up to 69% of women worldwide reported having suffered physical assault by an intimate male partner at some point in their lives. These figures highlight the major challenges that women still face in many parts of the world.
Here in South Africa, we speak of emancipation of women from triple oppression because the majority of women were oppressed on the basis of their race, class and gender. Our government has made deliberate efforts to improve the socio-economic status of women and to create gender equality. We provide comprehensive management for survivors of sexual assault, which includes appropriate medical care, social support and legal services to support survivors and bring perpetrators to book.
Government's interventions against violent crimes are bearing fruit with reduction in levels of crime being observed since the attainment of our democracy in 1994. Recently, the Institute of Security Studies released a report which indicated that serious crimes such as murder, attempted murder, car theft and hijacking are decreasing across the country. The report indicates that cases of murder decreased by 30% between 1994 and 2004 and it attributes this progress to better policing and more people being covered by the social security net, which has alleviated financial stress among the poor.
A number of interventions have been put in place to alleviate the plight of the poor including free primary healthcare and free health service for pregnant and lactating women, children under six years of age and people with disabilities. The number of people receiving social grants has increased significantly. There is free housing for the poor, about 3,9 million households receive free basic water and free basic electricity reaches 2,9 million households.
The report highlights the need to deal with drug related crimes and drunken driving. As government we are putting in place interventions against alcohol abuse. In addition to legal restrictions in terms of the sale of alcohol, we have included alcohol abuse as the main focus area in our Health Lifestyle programme.
Government is also working on regulations to introduce labelling of containers of alcoholic products with health warnings. Our aim is to raise awareness amongst our people about the harmful health and social effects of alcohol. Currently, our communities are bombarded by messages that encourage alcohol consumption. We have to ensure that there is some balance between the promotion of these products and the understanding of the negative effects of irresponsible drinking.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the need for an accident and emergency unit such as this one we are opening today is evident in the latest emergency statistics made available by the Department of Health. As an example, between the periods August 2005 to August 2006, 5 337 emergency assaults were reported and treated at Pelonomi Hospital; 110 gunshot patients and 2 252 patients were admitted for being involved in motor vehicle accidents. I need not remind us all about the devastating effects of irresponsible drinking on all our lives. Many of us have suffered loss due to this scourge or know somebody who has lost a loved one. In many cases, the survivors of traumatic incidents such as vehicle accidents, violent suicide attempts, or any other violence related incident lands up in the hands of the men and women working in our new accident and emergency unit.
The construction of the Pelonomi Accident and Emergency Unit started late in 2003 and a total investment of R18,3 million from the Revitalisation Fund was made. We purchased state of the art equipment to the value of R24 million. All in all, today this unit contributed R42,3 million to the local economy. Since operationalisation the unit has treated 1 108 trauma cases.
Programme Director, this world class facility treats all life-threatening cases referred here from all over the Free State, parts of the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Lesotho. Since Pelonomi Hospital was designated as a regional hospital rendering secondary services to the Southern Free State community in 1994, it is also rendering some tertiary services one of which was Trauma.
The unit has 100 beds, 14 of which are for high risk patients and an 18 bed Resuscitation area. The modern equipment found in the unit enables the personnel to render a very effective service. An example of this is the wireless monitoring system which enables the personnel to monitor patients at a central point.
The unit consists of a resuscitation area, trauma unit and trauma ward, high care unit, short stay ward (trauma A), reception area, trauma orthopaedics, waiting area, family room, theatre, procedure room, administrative wing, and a P.O.P (plaster of Paris) room. Two qualified doctors are also on duty 24 hours a day. The medical staff is supported by nursing staff that are trained in Trauma and critical care. Other disciplines such as Orthopaedics provide a 24 hour specialist service to the unit. The unit is accessible to handle all life threatening emergencies and major trauma patients referred here. I need to mention that only referred patients are treated here and walking-in patients are referred to the casualty department of the hospital. The unit is equipped with a fully functional helicopter pad and ambulance bay.
In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen this Unit is truly a remarkable achievement and I want to congratulate all who have worked so hard to ensure the completion of that project. I can assure you that the Unit is staffed with dedicated, highly trained healthcare professionals, and that the hi-tech equipment at their disposal is utilised appropriately. It is an honour to now declare this unit officially opened.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Health, Free State Provincial Government
17 October 2006
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