‘Our healthcare system is overwhelmed’: Eastern Cape premier’s SOS to Cyril Ramaphosa

Mabuyane admitted they were losing the fight against Covid-19, which he previously described as a “moving target”.

“In light of our healthcare system being overwhelmed, we have made a request to national government to deploy the medical team of the SANDF to assist us with the health intervention of our strategy,” he said.

His comment, no surprise to many, comes as the provincial healthcare system buckles under the strain of 838 health workers testing positive for the novel virus. So far 24 have died.

Nurses have held mass protests, and in some cases refused to treat Covid-19 patients, saying they were not properly equipped to protect themselves against infection.

The alarming infection rate among health workers has left those still at work under severe pressure and struggling to cope with the workload.

One hospital that needs intensive care beds is Cecilia Makiwane in Mdantsane, which only has two, though another 12 are expected to be added.

Mbengashe told DispatchLIVE the situation was worse in rural hospitals.

The 3,000 ICU beds needed was based on scientific evidence and not a “thumb suck”.

“When I say I am expecting a need for 3,000 ICU beds, what is happening is that we look at the data we have we look at the models and how the pandemic is growing.”

He said out of 100 people who contract the coronavirus, 20 were hospitalised and  5% were so sick they needed to be in ICU.

The provincial health department had 220 ICU beds before the pandemic, 300 were added after March, and the department was in the process of providing more, Mbengashe said.

He said the provincial health department already has the Dexamethasone drug in stock, which is used to treat severely ill Covid-19 patients, but was awaiting for approval to use it from the national government.

“Dexamethasone is found to be making a huge difference. It actually makes patients feel better.

“We have not registered that, and it is being registered by national government. It is life-saving. We have it in our stores. It is going to be a game-changer,” he said.

Mabuyane said 2.5 million people have been screened and 157,384 tested in the Eastern Cape.

The coronavirus has been found at 291 schools in the province, with 15 education officials succumbing to it.

Mabuyane said R2.5bn paid out in medico-legal claims had negatively affected delivery of services.

“Funds were meant for service delivery imperatives but because of these claims, they were paid to the lawyers of claimants.”

BY BHONGO JACOB