The North West Department of Health MEC Madoda Sambatha last week Friday, received medical equipment and an ambulance valued at over R700 000 from the Siyanda Bakgatla Platinum Mine.
The much-needed equipment and ambulance will improve health services in the Moses Kotane Sub-District, which has many clinics and villages.
While receiving the medical equipment and the ambulance, Sambatha indicated that his department was grateful for the partnership with the mines because it has previously assisted in closing health delivery gaps and speeding up service delivery.
He said the Department of Health procures ambulances yearly, but more are needed. He added that donations from the private sector have greatly improved the availability of much-needed resources.
"Moses Kotane is a vast and remote sub-district, and the roads here are bad as you go deeper into many villages. The poor road conditions contribute to the reduced lifespan of our ambulances.
"This ambulance will help improve the Sub-District's ability to respond to emergencies. There will be improvements in our ambulance response time", said Sambatha.
He also said that the medical equipment will be distributed following an analysis.
Siyanda Bakgatla Platinum Mine has further identified two more health facilities which will be donated medical equipment in the Moses Kotane Sub-District in the coming weeks. These donations are part of the mine's social responsibility programme.
He said some medical equipment will help improve maternity services, including during deliveries, while others are the essential tools nurses need daily.
"This is to increase and support the safety and sustainability of these communities they operate in and have employees and their families.
"Most of our clinics require medical equipment. We have medical equipment, but it is not enough. This donation means most of our patients will be serviced in their facilities. We will reduce the number of patients we refer to other facilities or even to Gauteng as we now have the necessary equipments," said Sambatha.
