by Andrew Louw, MPL – DA Northern Cape Provincial Leader ![]() Date: 11 June 2020Release: Immediate The Democratic Alliance (DA) is growing increasingly concerned about the lack of the Northern Cape’s Covid-19 testing capacity as positive cases in the province steadily climb. We are therefore calling on the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, to ensure that the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) wastes no more time in dealing with this matter.This comes after NHLS Chief Executive Officer, Karmani Chetty, yesterday revealed during a live broadcast of a parliamentary committee meeting, that there is no polymerase chain reaction (PCR) equipment, which is used to diagnose cases of Coronavirus, in the Northern Cape. She explained that this is because the Northern Cape, unlike the other eight provinces, does not have a virologist, who is required to sign off on tests in order for positive test results to be confirmed.According to Chetty, the NHLS is “looking at a plan to get a virologist to support the Northern Cape”, so that the NHLS can get equipment here.While the DA was aware that the Northern Cape was sending tests to the laboratory in Bloemfontein, we were under the impression that a solution was already underway. We are therefore deeply disappointed to learn that the Northern Cape is, as always, not being taken seriously.A recent reply to a parliamentary question, revealed that the NHLS allocated only 300 laboratory tests per day, to the Northern Cape. This is a very low number.The fact that the province has received six mobile laboratory vans from the NHLS, of which only two are equipped with Genex testing machines, is also no consolation. Not long ago, during a legislature portfolio committee meeting, the health department conceded that these machines were not very reliable and that their use was more akin to screening than testing.It is no wonder that repeated promises by Health MEC Mase Manopole, of a mass testing campaign in the Northern Cape, never materialized. How could they have when, aside from the above: the province was only allocated 100 000 test kits, of which a minimum of 50 kits was allocated per facility, with districts receiving a further 10 000 to replenish facilities; the Northern Cape Health Department has, from the start, only been testing patients presenting with at least four of the Covid-19 symptoms; and the entire country has been experiencing a shortage of test-kits and reagents?The people of the Northern Cape have been taken for fools.The DA condemns the lack of transparency regarding the Northern Cape’s deficient testing capacity, as well as the lack of urgency that it is being dealt with.Ms Chetty announced yesterday that the NHLS was keeping an eye on the increasing positive cases in the Northern Cape. This should sound alarm bells!The DA is again appealing to Dr Mkhize to schedule a visit to the Northern Cape in order to attend to the province’s unique challenges, including us not having a virologist.The Northern Cape may have a low population size, but we also have a high burden of disease and very high levels of poverty and malnutrition, making our people vulnerable to disease. Surely this province also deserves a fighting chance to combat the Coronavirus? Media Enquiries Andrew Louw, MPLDA Northern Cape Provincial Leader082 383 6914 Shelley De WittResearcher0828471387 |
