​Mapule Abrahams and Phume Khumalo
In commemorating National Emergency Service Day as well as Trauma Day, Gauteng Health MEC, Dr Bandile Masuku, spent the afternoon encouraging staff at South African National Blood Service in Constantia Kloof, Tshwane.
"You are the first to attend to trauma cases and you manage the patients as you transport them to health facilities.  Through your hands, negative outcomes of trauma such as disability or death are minimised, you are unsung heroes," said MEC Masuku.
The EMS is critical in the provision of quality health services and to this effect the province is the process of recruiting almost 300 emergency personnel to accommodate the provincialisation of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality's Emergency Services which should be finalised by end of this year.
In addition to boosting manpower, the provincial emergency communication centre in Midrand is being adjusted to accommodate some of the new personnel while others will be placed in various districts.
Gauteng Department of Health has over the years sub-contracted municipalities as agents to render Emergency Medical Services, a model which seemed to be inefficient and very costly.
"EMS is an important component of healthcare provision because it provides the public with swift medical care and create ease to access health facilities through well-equipped emergency transportation, " reiterated MEC Masuku. 
"We are committed as the provincial government to providing Gauteng residents with quality and efficient emergency medical services and provincialisation will allow us to do just that," said the MEC.
To ensure that all these personnel are highly skilled, the intake accommodates those with Diploma and Higher Certificate in Emergency Medical Care Programme.
Those who are already in the employment of the Department and are under qualified will be given an opportunity to upgrade their qualifications through the Lebone College of Emergency Care.