SA National Defence Force’s Military Health Service has deployed doctors, nurses and operational emergency care practitioners to the Eastern Cape to help the province’s overwhelmed public hospitals
On Sunday, the group arrived at the Army Support Base in Nelson Mandela Bay, includes 35 military nurses, 12 doctors and five clinical associates.
The announcement by the defense force came days after it was reported that Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane disclosed the province’s hospitals were “overwhelmed” in the fight against Covid-19.
Mabuyane revealed he had asked national government for the support of the SANDF medical team.
Eastern Cape’s hospitals have been struggling to cope with the influx of patients, as staff at some hospitals embark on go-slows over various grievances around their work environment.
There are 490 deaths, and 18 980 people have recovered from the virus in the rural province.
The group will be placed in 14 days’ isolation before beginning work.
