Tebogo Tladi

The Gauteng Department Health celebrated National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Day at Johan Heyns Community Health Centre, Vanderbijlpark on Friday.
Under the theme; "The Green Angels – Celebrating the everyday EMS heroes, and honouring the fallen heroes'' the occasion saw EMS personnel from across the province converge to public healthcare's undisputed frontline, and honour those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Delivering the keynote on behalf of MEC for Health Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi , Bongani Makhubu said;" Emergency Medical Services is a fundamental focal point that directly contributes to the overall functionality of healthcare systems.''
''During the advent of Covid-19 global pandemic last year, we have witnessed the overwhelming demand for emergency services and widespread disruption of healthcare function. The unprecedented influx of emergency calls from patients needing hospital care was inconceivable yet again, our EMS was equal to the task,'' stated Makhubu.

The 44 year-old paramedic Phumelele Nkosi weighed in by saying she feels extremely honoured today for being recognised as being on the frontline on a day-to-day basis as it was not an easy task.  And added that more often than not, they are subjected to the worst medical emergencies cases imaginable.

''The arrival of COVID didn't make things any easier as now, we had to deal with a new enemy which we knew very little about at the time.  I recall being a completely nervous responding to my first COVID case.  I was even uncertain of whether to handle the patient; whether to touch them or otherwise as the pandemic was something we didn't know much about however as time lapsed we enhanced our training and familiarised ourselves with the disease.  Today, we are more competent in handling COVID-19 cases,'' added Nkosi.
The day's proceedings concluded with the unveiling of the Wall of Remembrance in honour of late EMS officers.