Medical emergency𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟯𝟭 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮.
In Xhora, a village in the Eastern Cape, a 21-year-old, heavily pregnant woman repeatedly calls for an ambulance. Three hours later, there’s still no response and she has no other means to get herself to a hospital almost 90 minutes away. But in these isolated communities, she is not alone. Residents say Emergency Medical Services (EMS) have become almost mythical in these parts and, for those lucky enough to get an ambulance, the vehicles are often ill-equipped to assist patients. EMS medics have also had enough and, in April, embarked on an illegal strike to get government’s attention. They say they’re struggling to get to their patients and, when they do, the vehicles often don’t have basic supplies like oxygen or even a stretcher. Carte Blanche investigates.
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