FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
09 November 2017
SAMA outraged at ambulance attacks
The South African Medical Association (SAMA) strongly condemns the recent attack on a Provincial Ambulance in Cape Town, which may have contributed to the death of an eight-year-old boy.
The young child was picked up by the ambulance after a road collision, and was being taken to the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital when the ambulance was stopped, and robbed at gunpoint in Borcheds Quarry Road, Nyanga. While final investigations are awaited, the delay may have contributed to the child's death. Irrespective of this, attacks on healthcare personnel and emergency services is outrageous and to be condemned by all.
The Association extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of the child.
"An attack such as this on an ambulance, which is there to save lives, is reprehensible and sickening" says Dr Mzukisi Grootboom, chairperson of SAMA.
Dr Grootboom says it is, however, not enough to condemn these attacks and then to simply move on to the next incident.
"Reports indicate there have been more than 200 attacks on Emergency Medical Services staff since 2012. That is totally unacceptable. We call on the Provincial and national authorities to act and do something immediately about this situation to avoid a similar tragedy in the days and weeks ahead. There is now no room for debate on this issue, something must be done," Dr Grootboom insists.
SAMA again wishes to place on record that emergency medical services personnel play a critical role in healthcare provision, and are on the frontlines of saving lives, especially when time is a factor.
"These men and women are heroes. They save lives. They go out every day and see some of the worst injuries imaginable. Their safety must be guaranteed, and they must be allowed to do their work unfettered. As the country's Medical Association we stand behind them, and join their pleas for protection to perform their vital duties," Dr Grootboom concludes
Notes to Editors
About SAMA
The South African Medical Association was formally constituted on 21 May 1998 as a unification of a variety of doctors’ groups that had represented a diversity of interests. SAMA is a non-statutory, professional association for public, and private sector medical practitioners. SAMA is a voluntary membership association, existing to serve the best interests and needs of its members in any and all healthcare related matters.
Contact:
Head of PR & Communications
Dr Simonia Magardie
082 905 8505
Email: simoniam@samedical.org
Spokesperson
Chairperson: SAMA
Dr Mzukisi Grootboom
072 633 1114
Email: mzukisi@mweb.co.za
Spokesperson 2
Vice-Chairperson: SAMA
Prof Mark Sonderup
083 626 1909
Email: msonderup@samedical.co.za