An appeal is being made to residents of Port Elizabeth to assist with donations to procure protective gear for health workers on the frontline of the fight against covid19.
The appeal was made on Saturday by doctors of the Port Elizabeth Hospital Complex in conjunction with the Igazi Foundation ahead of an expected upsurge in covid19 cases in the city and Province.
The Eastern Cape has recorded 21 cases so far, with the national figure at 1505.
“Suppliers have been procured to assist with ramping up production to protect our vulnerable health sector,” said Cole Cameron of the Igazi Foundation.
He said this includes the production and distribution of reusable hospital gowns, face masks, face shields and other critical equipment.
“All will be made to the highest medical standards of protection,” he added.
Cameron says the Igazi Foundation has agreed to allow the Doctors of the hospital Complex to use its infrastructure to expedite this entire process.
“The funds will be ring-faced in the Igazi account and used only for the unfolding crisis. This will be managed and audited appropriately,” he said.
The appeal comes amid concerns from health sector trade unions, the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers and the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa that frontline health workers and community health workers are vulnerable because they do not have protective gear.
