Towards a People’s Vaccine Campaign: A call to action
15 Jan 2021
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The Covid-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc millions in South Africa and globally are being infected and dying. Vaccinating a significant part of the population is the only realistic way to defeat the pandemic. Achieving this will require international co-operation and solidarity. Unity in action across all sectors of our society is now paramount. We need vigilance and solidarity to slow the rate of infection and to unburden health facilities. The reported acquisition of 1.5 million doses of C-19 vaccines for frontline healthcare workers is welcomed, but this must be the start of urgently acquiring millions more. An estimated 40 to 80 million doses will be needed, along with a massive roll-out effort to achieve herd immunity. This cannot be done by the government alone. We, the people, especially the millions of poor and working-class people, must be central to this effort.
Health department lambasted for lack of preparedness for Covid-19 second wave
By Sakhile Ndlazi
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Pretoria - The Department of Health was yesterday criticised by medical stakeholders who pulled no punches for their lack of preparedness for the second wave.
The gloves of various health experts and unions had already been off against the department long before the Steve Biko Academic Hospital saga - from the sacking of 983 newly-qualified nurses without any notice, to inadequate beds, wards and resources, to the neglect of their healthcare workers.
But yesterday the department had to take more of this with the SA Medical Association throwing the first punch, lambasting the lack of preparedness despite the warning in September.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for tougher legislation and community mobilisation against the abuse of alcohol. In the African National Congress's (ANC's) annual 8 January statement to celebrate the party's 109 birthday held virtually, the president said temporary restrictions that were placed on the availability of alcohol under the state of disaster regulations demonstrated the extent to which abuse of alcohol fuels violence, trauma and reckless behaviour and places a burden on the health system and emergency services.