A nurse was brutally assaulted and staff given death threats by three men early this morning, August 21 at Kariega Provincial Hospital.
According to information obtained, at approximately 06:00, the three unknown men brought another man with gunshot wounds to the hospital and demanded that nurses go to the car and take the would-be patient.
When the nurses told the three men that there were only women on duty and requested that they bring the injured man inside the trauma unit, one of the men allegedly refused, punched one of the nurses in the face and proceeded to kick her.
Trauma security called the security guards stationed at the gate for backup whilst the assaulted nurse managed to get away.
Before speeding off in a black Ford Fiesta, the men threatened the trauma staff and said that should the injured man succumb to his injuries, they would come back to kill everyone. This despite the fact that the unknown injured man was already declared dead on arrival.
Eastern Cape Health MEC, Nomakhosazana Meth, has condemned the brutal attack and threats made and said that she was shocked by the blatant attack.
“Counselling will be offered to the traumatised workers. Management has also arranged for staff to cover the day shift as both day and night shift staff are traumatised by the events of this morning,” she said.
“Communities need to treat healthcare workers with respect and care instead of assaulting and threatening them because this might lead to compromised service delivery as people fear for their lives,” she added.
Meth also called on the police to leave no stone unturned in bringing the three men to justice.
“It cannot be that hardworking and dedicated healthcare workers continue being targeted by thugs in Nelson Mandela Bay. We condemn this thuggery with the contempt it deserves. When our staff, who continue going above and beyond the call of duty, are too traumatised to go to work, it will be communities that will suffer at the end of the day.
“So, we are calling on communities to work with law enforcement agencies to ensure that those who continue targeting healthcare workers, which includes EMS personnel, are arrested and prosecuted,” she said.
The police were called and arrived at 6:34.
Issued by the Eastern Cape Department of Health.
