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Gqeberha residents needing state ambulance services will have their calls routed to the Makhanda EMC Control Centre which will then relay the request to ambulance services in Nelson Mandela Bay.
That’s after thieves stole a crucial four-kilometre cable that runs from the base station to the exchange on Saturday, 17 September.
The Eastern Cape Health Department said on Tuesday that Telkom has ordered replacement cables but, due to heavy rain technicians have not yet been able to locate the exact affected areas.
Department spokesperson, Yonela Dekeda, said in the meantime a contingency plan has been put in place to keep EMS services running in Nelson Mandela Bay.
This includes placing a staff member at the SAPS 10111 call centre to respond to all EMS calls in the area.
Dekeda said members of the public are also encouraged to continue dialling 112 to access ambulances and must then request the Makana EMS Control Centre.
She said Makana Control Centre staff will then relay the request to the ambulance crew in Gqeberha who will respond to the call.
“We call on the community to work with the police to safeguard the copper lines and infrastructure as theft of these cables compromises the life of communities who need these emergency medical services.
