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DENOSA’s message this festive season: Drive safely because there are few health workers in the country
Media statement
Thursday, 18 December 2014
The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) would like to urge fellow South Africans to travel safely these December holidays once again, and rest whenever they get tired as it may happen that the areas they travel along have shortage of health workers such as nurses.
Accidents increase on the outskirts of big towns and cities due to high traffic volume as people leave for their homes in rural areas for December holidays. December holidays always increase both nurse-to-patient and doctor-to-patient ratios considerably in rural hospitals and clinics as majority citizens flock to these areas for their summer vacation.
DENOSA’s concern is that, because injury is one of the leading causes of deaths in the country mainly because of accidents, the situations at ICU facilities especially those in rural areas become dire during these times of high-peak volumes. While ICU nurse-to-patient ratios must be one nurse for every patient, the vacancy rates at ICU remain a challenge for many hospitals to such that an ICU of 20 beds may have only 10 nurses, which increases risks of losing lives.
December holidays exacerbate matters and increase the risks of losing more lives as emergency admissions due to injuries have to compete with other reasons for ICU admissions of patients, such as natural illnesses, advanced chronic illnesses and non-communicable diseases related to lifestyle and diet.
This often results in many unnecessary deaths, mainly due to shortage of nurses and doctors. In South Africa, not more than 15 percent of nurses are based in rural areas whereas about 44 percent of the country’s population resides in rural areas. December holidays change this picture completely as more people who are migrant workers in urban areas return to their families in rural areas for the festive season.
As a preventative measure, DENOSA would like to call on all citizens who will be on the road on their holiday destinations to cooperate with law enforcement agencies of the road, be patient, observant, tolerant while on the road, and get the time to rest whenever possible. Losing lives not only increases burden on the country’s already stressed health infrastructure, but also contributes immensely to the country’s economic regress as key components of economic growth, people, get lost on our roads.
DENOSA wishes all South Africans and nurses, many of whom will be hard at work saving lives across the country’s health facilities, a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!
End
Issued by the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA)
For more information, contact:
Simon Hlungwani, DENOSA President
Mobile: 079 501 4922
Or
Sibongiseni Delihlazo, DENOSA Communications Manager
Mobile: 079 875 2663
Tel: 012 343 2315
Email: sibongisenid@denosa.org.za
Website: www.denosa.org.za
Facebook: DENOSA National Page
Twitter: @DENOSAORG
