EAST LONDON- The Eastern Cape Department of Health successfully celebrated provincial Doctors’ Day in a style with a special breakfast on 16th October 2024 at BMW, East London.
The breakfast, which was part of the provincial Doctors Day celebrations, was led by Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane and Eastern Cape Department of Health MEC Ntandokazi Capa. The celebration, held under the theme ‘Healing Hands, Caring Hearts,’ kicked off with a 5km fun walk and aerobics from at East London beachfront.
Premier Mabuyane has acknowledged the progress made in the province’s healthcare system while also highlighting the challenges that lie ahead. “The system is better than it used to be. However, the only problem we are facing right now is the overwhelming burden on our hospitals due to overpopulation, which is growing faster than our economic growth,” Mabuyane said.
Premier Mabuyane expressed his gratitude for the dedication and hard work of doctors who are willing to work in rural areas. He also highlighted the significant improvements made in medical equipment, particularly in surgical facilities. “We are glad that we have doctors who are willing to work in rural areas and our equipment to perform surgery has improved significantly,” Premier Mabuyane said.
However, the Premier emphasized the need for additional support staff, including general workers, to maintain hospitals and ensure they remain in good condition for patients. “We do need general workers for maintaining our hospitals to be in great shape for our patients,” Premier Mabuyane said.
Furthermore, the Eastern Cape Department of Health is taking proactive steps to address the understaffing crisis plaguing the province’s healthcare system.
According to the MEC of Health in the Eastern Cape Ntandokazi Capa, the department is currently visiting all districts to assess the extent of the understaffing problem. “As a Health department we are visiting all the Eastern Cape districts to see the damage of understaffing, after that, we will engage with the Premier to see what can be done. Right now, we are facing a challenge of nurses who have resigned and it is hard to replace them,” MEC Capa said.
One of the experienced doctors in Frere Hospital that has been serving for more than 20 years Dr. Bulelwa Mzileni expressed her appreciation for the recognition. “We appreciate that doctors across the province are celebrated for all the hard work and sacrifices that we make for the communities that we are serving,” she said.
The event was a significant milestone in acknowledging the vital role doctors play in the public health sector. It also highlighted the provincial government’s commitment to supporting and recognizing the hard work and dedication of medical professionals in the Eastern Cape.
photograph: EC DoH
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