SIX Cuban health specialists arrived in Nelson Mandela Bay recently to strengthen the Eastern Cape Department of Health’s efforts in fighting against the Covid-19 pandemic.
The specialists – three doctors, an engineer, epidemiologist and bio-statistician – were deployed to the metro after President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the metro a coronavirus hot spot.
A hot spot is defined as an area that has more than five infected people per every 100 000 or where new infections are increasing at a fast pace. Ramaphosa said that, in dealing with the virus in the hot spots, intensive interventions aimed at decreasing the number of new infections, would be implemented.
“We are putting in place enhanced measures of surveillance, infection control and management.
“We will also assign a full-time team of experienced personnel to each hot spot.
“This team will include epidemiologists, family practitioners, nurses, community health workers, public health experts and emergency medical services, to be supported by Cuban experts,” he added.
“We will link each hot spot to testing services, isolation and quarantine facilities, treatment, hospital beds and contact tracing.”
Acting Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay, Tshonono Buyeye, said during the welcoming ceremony at Livingstone Hospital that the Covid-19 enemy does not discriminate against race, gender or social standing, but is a common enemy that must be defeated in order to prosper as a city and nation.
“Today we go to the trenches with you in the fight to reclaim our right to lives, sense of community and togetherness.
“As you will know, Nelson Mandela Bay is the heart and engine of the economy of the Eastern Cape. That means that we have a huge responsibility in turning the tide against Covid-19.
“The administration that I lead, is committed to work shoulder-to-shoulder with you and the army of dedicated and skilled local health workers to defeat Covid-19,” Buyeye added.
The NMBM Disaster Management Forum has been working with the NMBM Public Health Directorate to ensure that public awareness programmes and radio campaigns are conducted regularly in an effort to flatten the curve.
MMC for Public Health, Yolisa Pali and deputy chairperson of Legislature, Tony Duba, formed part of the delegates that welcomed the Cuban contingent.
One of the Cuban delegates, Dr Nelson, expressed the group’s commitment and desire to form part of a successful team fighting Covid-19 in South Africa.
