Public healthcare in the province was brought to a grinding halt by the National Health Allied Worker’s Union’s (Nehawu) nearly two-month industrial action, a strike in some parts and a go-slow in others, which left clinics and hospitals in the province without medication or personnel.

SANDF spokesperson, Mafi Mgobozi, says the infantry soldiers are also on the ground in Mahikeng to assist with transporting medication from the provincial depot which was rendered non-functional by disgruntled employees.

Mgobozi says the medical personnel are mainly there to support the Mahikeng provincial hospital.

He adds the medical personnel offer a range of specialities and will be covering the shortages in the hospital. He says the SANDF is hopeful it will deploy more people to assist.

The North West Health Department told OFM News earlier this month it has sought national assistance to deliver essential medication to facilities in the province directly.

Department spokesperson Tebogo Lekgethwane said, at the time, the National Health Department had already started delivering medication to facilities directly with the first batch going to Klerksdorp, further adding he couldn’t mention specific facilities or routes out of fear that access to those facilities would be blocked by angry Nehawu members.

OFM News