In a statement, the departmental spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane, says 57 learners will be graduating from the Ambulance Emergency Assistant (AEA) course (57 graduates) and 36 will be from the Medical Rescue Technician (36) graduates. He says these technicians are EMS officials who have completed the three basic modules of Medical Rescue, namely Vehicle Rescue, Fire Search and Rescue as well as High Angle 1 Rescue.

OFM News previously reported that more than 500 nurses graduated on Friday 4 October 2019. These 506 nurses, in total, which include comprehensive nursing, midwifery, psychiatric nursing, advanced midwifery and neonatal nursing science, operating theatre and clinical nursing science, were later on expected to be placed in various health facilities in the province.

The department said the deployment of these nurses will enable quick health service delivery to locals in areas where there is such a need. OFM News previously reported that the MEC for the Health Department, Madoda Sambatha, announced during his maiden departmental budget speech in July that the 24-hour health access to rural areas will remain the biggest target in the next 12 months. Sambatha said his department will increase the 24-hour service availability at the current 68 facilities, with an additional nine facilities.

The department said the new nurses will do their compulsory community service for a year, which will enable them to register with the South African Nursing Council and continue to serve the people of the province with pride.

OFM News