Media statement by Dr BM Nyembezi : Head of Department

Our constitution provides that every person in our country has the right to access health care and any health care facility. Over and above, it must also be emphasized that every citizen of our country has the right to access emergency health care services. In addition, the constitution also provides that every child has the right to health care and to access health care facilities.

Accordingly the Department of Health has a constitutional mandate to ensure that these services are provided. It is for this reason that the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health is appealing that, as citizens of this Province, we all ensure that access to all our health care institutions is guaranteed. Our health care workers, mindful of their responsibilities to patients, have worked extremely hard the past few days, in upholding this mandate. We sincerely appreciate their commitment.

We are also thanking all the volunteers that are assisting us.

Our experience the last few days is that the lives and health care of the People of our Province has been compromised due to the lack of free access to some of our health facilities preventing both staff and patients from entering the facilities.

The Department is continuing its efforts to strengthen security services at all health facilities to ensure the safety of our patients and staff. In this regard the Department is supported by the South African Police Services and private security companies. Ensuring patient safety is our moral and legal obligation.

We are appealing to everyone, each and every citizen of our Province, to please do everything in their power to assist the Department of Health in ensuring that patients can freely and easily access our health facilities. We need the support of all citizens to be able to continue to render health services.

We must always remember that Health is a human rights issue.