The union of health workers, Hospersa is very concerned about the situation around ambulances and paramedics who are frequently attacked when they are called to perform emergency services.
Ambulance personnel is at risk while they are trying to save the lives of others.
Hospersa confirmed that racial attacks on paramedics, especially in the Western Cape, has increased tremendously.
Over the weekend, an ambulance was transporting a seriously ill patient during the night, in Asanda Village settlement near Strand and was attacked. The ambulance was badly damaged in the attack.
In July, a team of paramedics was attacked in Blackheath on the Cape Flats and their equipment and mobile phones were stolen. The armed attackers stabbed a white female paramedic with a broken bottle. In May, an ambulance was also ambushed in Nyanga and robbed of equipment and medication on board.
There is a growing concern over the safety of paramedics in the townships.
Read the original article by Daniel Lötter in Afrikaans on Front Nasionaal SA – blad
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