Deputy Chairperson, hon members, the first question I am required to answer is from hon member D Z Rantho about requests for assistance from municipalities regarding disasters and the rainy season. Yes, hon member, requests from disaster-affected provinces were received, but this was only for support in respect of malaria.
The following municipalities were among those affected in the disaster areas which requested support from us at the national level: Nkomazi municipality in Mpumalanga, and Mutale and Giyani in Limpopo. You will realise that these are the areas in which malaria is endemic, whether they have floods or not. They do have programmes in regard to malaria every year, but when there are floods it is a special problem for them.
Remember, hon member, these areas in these provinces have to spray a substantial number of houses for malaria every year during the rainy season. Now, that job they do every year. In this case, their request came because of the floods. They specifically asked for more information, education and communication, and we gave them materials for such information and communication.
In addition, we held workshops for doctors and nurses in these areas so that there can be a high level of alertness. They must be able to pick up the signs and symptoms of malaria as soon as they emerge. They must also be highly skilled in the treatment of such patients. So, that is what we have done, hon member. Thank you.
Hon Chairperson, I appreciate the Minister's answering my question and thank him for that. The follow-up question is as follows: Some doctors and health professionals have raised their concerns about the chronic lack of consumables, including drugs, syringes, gloves, towels and bed linen, which makes the public hospitals vulnerable to outbreaks of infection.
During our last Provincial Week visit to the Eastern Cape, for example, the depots of Port Elizabeth - Livingstone and the other hospitals - had major health problems, and serious problems of theft. My question is: Has the Department of Health considered a multifaceted approach to infection control by addressing some of the danger areas, such as the conditions in hospital depots and improving procurement processes in hospitals? This would ensure that credible suppliers are appointed and that service providers provide quality and approved products, such as syringes, dressings, equipment and gloves. I thank you, Chairperson.
Chairperson, I am a little confused because this question has nothing to do with what I am answering here. I am quite prepared to, and will gladly answer it, if it is presented as a new question altogether. Not now, however. For now, because I need a lot of information; it is a big question. We have been dealing with that in the department, but I am not ready for it, because it does not appear here.
Thank you, Deputy Chair, and thank you to the Minister for the replies. Minister, you did state you have received a request for assistance from various municipalities and/or provinces with regard to malaria. Were there no incidents of or any requests for assistance with diarrhoea? Normally, one has an outbreak of diarrhoea when there are floods. Thank you.
No, hon member, it is not that that was not a problem, but there was no special request, because provinces know how to deal with it. The reason that they ask us for help with malaria is that most of the experts in malaria are in the national department. It needs specific expertise. With diarrhoea, it is something that provinces have to deal with all the time and they do not have a problem doing so.
Before you actually answer the next question, may I inform all hon members that what we are smelling is coming from a burst pipe which is being repaired below us. They are now clearing whatever is there, so we might not have the problem for much longer. The hon Minister may continue.
Investigation into deaths of babies after birth in public hospitals and media reports and/or public concerns on similar issues
32. Ms D Z Rantho (ANC) asked the Minister of Health:
(1) Whether his department has launched any investigations into any reports on deaths of babies after birth in any public hospitals in the country; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) at which hospitals and (b) what were the main causes of such deaths;
(2) whether his department has put any preventive measures in place to ensure that public hospitals are safe and secure institutions for women to give birth successfully; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) whether his department has noted any media reports and/or public concerns on similar issues; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so,
(4) whether his department has investigated or will investigate such media reports and/or public concerns; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?