Medical emergency
๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฏ๐ญ ๐๐๐น๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฎ.
In Xhora, a village in the Eastern Cape, a 21-year-old, heavily pregnant woman repeatedly calls for an ambulance. Three hours later, thereโs 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 governmentโs attention. They say theyโre struggling to get to their patients and, when they do, the vehicles often donโt have basic supplies like oxygen or even a stretcher. Carte Blanche investigates.
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