Question NW837 to the Minister of Health
04 June 2020 - NW837
Ismail, Ms H to ask the Minister of Health
(1)What (a) number of the Cuban medical personnel who arrived in the Republic around 27 April 2020 to assist the Government in the fight against Covid-19 will be allocated to each province and (b) criteria will be used to determine where in the Republic they will be deployed to render assistance; (2) (a) has the Cuban medical personnel been trained already and (b) will they have to be driven around?
Reply:
1. (a) The number of the Cuban medical personnel as distributed is attached as ANNEXURE A.
(b) The criteria used to determine the deployment of the Cuban Health Professionals across the Country is based on the epidemiological modelling data, current health service capacity as well as capacity required as the number of COVID-19 infections increase in the different provinces and current available skills within each province.
2. (a) Yes, the Cuban Medical personnel have been trained. Training was conducted for Cuban medical personnel prior to their deployment to Provinces. The training included an overview of the South African Health System, the demography and epidemiology of diseases in the 9 provinces, Covid-19.
The history of COVID-19 in South Africa and progress made was provided, more importantly, training focussed on all approved country guidelines for COVID-19, including Clinical Case Management and Infection Prevention and Control. The training materials are all available on the Knowledge Hub of the Department and is accessible to Cuban Health Professionals.
(b) Transportation for Cuban medical personnel to serving stations will be dealt with in accordance with the approved Policy for Travel and Transportation within the relevant Provincial Departments and Public Service Regulations.
END.
ANNEXURE A
CUBAN MEDICAL BRIGADE DISTRIBUTION LIST
|
|
Western Cape |
Gauteng |
Kwa Zulu Natal |
Eastern Cape |
Free State |
Mpumalanga |
Limpopo |
North West |
Northern Cape |
National Department |
TOTAL |
|
Family Physician |
18 |
17 |
17 |
12 |
10 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
7 |
0 |
105 |
|
Health Technology |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
30 |
|
Epidemiology |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
18 |
|
Biostatistics |
3 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
21 |
|
Public Health Specialist* |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
11 |
|
Biotechnologist |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
|
TOTALS |
28 |
28 |
27 |
20 |
17 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
11 |
17 |
187 |