The Free State Health MEC, Montseng Tsiu, flanked by department head, David Motau and other members of the senior management, will not only address the province’s efforts to curb the contagion but will also embark on tours at an isolation unit at the Free State Psychiatric Complex; the Field Hospital and the expansion of Universitas Hospital Wards.

It’s anticipated Tsiu will address the concerns of disgruntled healthcare workers in the midst of the crisis and later pay tribute to the lives lost.

The tribute comes as a video of Free State healthcare workers mourning the loss of a fellow hospital employee is being circulated on healthcare workers’ WhatsApp groups across the country.

In late July the department stated the exact number of health care workers that have died due to COVID-19 complications stands at seven. This was a correction of figures that were announced by Tsiu as she tabled her department’s budget. Tsiu incorrectly stated 167 healthcare workers had succumbed to the virus when that number in fact represented the number of frontline workers in the health sector that had contracted COVID-19.

Tsiu is further requesting that the process of consolidating the figures of healthcare workers infected must be expedited, so that “she can pay tribute” says departmental spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi.

During the tabling of her budget vote, Tsiu revealed that the recruitment of medical personnel in the form of doctors, nurses amongst others in the Free State is at an advanced stage. The department has made 54 permanent appointments since April 2020.

With regards to the ongoing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the department has appointed a further 340 Professional Nurses, 175 Staff Nurses, 275 Assistant Nurses, 23 Medical Officers, 60 cleaners, 88 household aids and 84 clerks on contractual basis. Tsiu has highlighted that the financial and economic situation remains unpredictable as the health of the community is dynamic and that there is now an increased demand for funding due to the need for more human capital, equipment, and medicines amongst other needs. She further vowed that her department's R12.4 billion budget will amongst others prioritise the recruitment of more personnel and ensuring that health demands across the province are met.

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