Minister Phaahla to give update on impact of load shedding on healthcare sector

Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla will give an update on the impact of load shedding on the healthcare sector later this week.

Department officials said the minister has started a process to get all facilities exempt from Eskom’s rolling power cuts.

South Africa is currently experiencing stage 3 power cuts.

National and provincial health bosses are finalizing an assessment focusing on how power cuts impact operations at healthcare facilities across the country.

Health Department spokesperson, Foster Mohale, said that Minister Phaahla had been concerned over the rolling power cuts for some time and hoped that the situation would improve.

“However, it has gotten worse to higher levels such as level 5 and level 6, which impacts the provision of healthcare across the country. Minister Phaahla has ordered the director-general of the National Department of Health to work closely with provincial heads of health departments to finalize the assessment of the impact already in the past week.”

Mohale said the minister had been considering alternative options to bolster power supply at health facilities in addition to generators.

Officials are also looking at ways to lessen the impact of power cuts on the sector.

-EWN

In other news – No baby number 2 for Faith Nketsi any time soon

South African reality TV star Faith Nketsi has opened up about her birthing experience and the trauma it left her with.

The reality star recently took to Twitter to share her experience with fans, saying she was in labour for 26 hours before she held her baby in her arms which made her think twice about baby number two. “26 hours in labour is enough to make me never ever want to go through that again. Maybe I’ll change my mind one day, who knows. Learn More