By KWANELE SIBIYA | 2020-11-30

 “PATIENTS should come at Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital at their own risk.”

This call was made by a faction of nurses at the RFM hospital yesterday.

This comes after the nurses alleged that they are more exposed to COVID-19 as they are forced to repeat non-reusable face masks, yet they are normally in contact with people who are infected with the coronavirus on a constant basis.

According to a well-placed source, at the hospital they have a major challenge in terms of being furnished with the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to protect themselves from contracting the coronavirus.

The source divulged that at the hospital, they received 50 non-reusable face masks per week for the whole staff which is approximately 300 nurses and as a result, they are forced to repeat face masks which place them at a higher risk of contracting the coronavirus.

“Each time we order face masks from the pharmacy, they only grant us one box of non-reusable face masks, and as a result each nurse would get less than four masks to use for the whole week, something which forces us to repeat the face masks and it is very wrong,” said the source.

risk

According to the source, there is a possibility that fluids of infected patients could stick to the face masks while attending to them and by virtue of repeating them (face masks), they expose the other patients to a risk of contracting the virus.

The source further stated that up to date, they are still lacking uniforms and when they voiced out their concern in that regard, the management informed them that they were working on a process of procuring some.

“The management promised us that the process is likely to take more than three months, which means for the next three months or more, there is a possibility that we would be working without uniforms,” said the source.

RFM Chief Executive Officer Benjamin Simelane confirmed that indeed currently, there is a shortage of PPE at the hospital.

“I do acknowledge a shortage of some of the PPE without being specific; however, this is a common challenge across the country and perhaps worldwide. The ministry is aware of the challenges,” he said.

The Director of Health Dr. Vusi Magagula said the PPE situational shortage is already a known factor throughout the country.

“There has to be rational use to try and make ends meet, however health workers should not be exposed to infections under no circumstances should they work unprotected,” said Dr. Magagula.

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