​Gauteng Health Communications
 
In a significant move that is aimed at broadening access to training opportunities, individuals aged 36 and above have been afforded an opportunity to get essential training and valuable experience enabling them to become employable and market-ready in the field of emergency care.
Earlier this week (02 April), the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) through the Gauteng Emergency Medical Services (EMS) changed the lives of 1 150 individuals who, for many years had struggled and were overlooked for employment opportunities due to their lack of experience needed in the field of emergency care.
While the majority of these 1 150 individuals are youth, 70% are females and 30% males, a significant number of these aspiring paramedics are aged above 35, an age group that is considered not part of the youth cohort in South Africa, therefore limiting their chances of internship training opportunities.
Vincent Mgube (36), one of the above age 35s individuals who received his employment contract said that he has for many years struggled to get his dream job of being a paramedic due his lack of experience. Even though he has all the necessary qualification, he could never get any opportunities.
"For many years I have tried to get into the field of emergency care with no luck. This internship programme that comes with the training needed to gain the experience needed to become a paramedic will change my life for the better. 
"I am very happy that I got selected as one of over a 1 000 candidates who now have a new lease at life. I hope that with the valuable experience we will get, it will be easy for us to get jobs and even get absorbed within the Gauteng EMS," said Mgube. 
Another aspiring paramedic, Wezeka Shabalala (43) from the Ekurhuleni District said that she completed her Basic Ambulance Assistant in the year 2000 and has struggled for close to 24-years to get a job which she studied for. 
"I am really grateful for this opportunity presented by the Gauteng EMS as I have struggled to get a job for many years," said Shabalala.   
This ground-breaking initiative is part of the long-term commitment of the GDoH to expand the footprint of the Emergency Medical Service to meet the needs of the ever-growing population of Gauteng particularly in the Townships, Informal Settlements and Hostel (TISH) areas.
"We have seen firsthand the positive impact these programmes have had on participants' lives, giving them a sense of purpose and hope for a brighter future. Our focus on skills development is not just about addressing unemployment but also about creating a more inclusive and prosperous society for all," said MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko during the handover of employment contracts to the 1 150 aspiring paramedics. 
The Emergency Care internship programme will see successful candidates being paid  a stipend of R5 000 for a period of 12 months, enabling them to sustain themselves while getting valuable experience that will increase their chances of employment in the field. 
Since many of the recruits completed their qualifications many years ago, they will undergo a refresher training course at Lebone College of Emergency Care to introduce them to the clinical side of emergency care.