Johannesburg – The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) on Tuesday announced that its Emergency Medical Service (EMS) has initiated the first-ever emergency care internship programme.
The appointment of over 1 000 interns in the EMS is set to improve service provision to the people of Gauteng Province, the GDoH said in a statement.
The GDoH said the emergency care internship programme was designed to provide aspiring healthcare professionals with essential training and valuable experience enabling them to become “employable and market-ready”.
Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko said: “Today, a total of 1150 interns of which 70% are females and 30% are males, received official appointment letters and employment contracts which is a significant milestone in their journey to become emergency care professionals”.
“This ground-breaking initiative is part of the long-term commitment of the department to expand the footprint of the Emergency Medical Service to meet the needs of the ever-growing population of Gauteng particularly in the Townships, Informal Settlements, and Hostel (TISH) areas.
“The recruitment drive targeted all five districts in the province to ensure that EMS has a footprint in every community for improved response time to emergencies.”
MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko said the appointed interns will be strategically deployed to areas characterised by high emergency call volumes, with a particular focus on TISH areas.
In his address at the welcome ceremony of the interns, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi highlighted the impact of climate change on disasters and emphasised the importance of preparedness in responding to any crises.
“Given that we live in an environment prone to disasters due to climate change, it is crucial that we are prepared to respond effectively to any disaster that may occur in the province,” said Premier Lesufi.
“Therefore, these interns will also receive training to assist during times of crisis.”
Premier Lesufi said the 12-month programme would contribute to job creation and skills development.
He said the recruits will undergo a refresher training at Lebone College of Emergency Care to introduce them to the clinical side of emergency care.
Forty-year-old Phiwayinkosi Buthelezi, one of the new interns, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity mentioning that age has always been a barrier for him to participate in internship programs.
“I am so happy to be part of the Green Angels and will finally be able to use my training to help my community and provide for my family”, said Buthelezi.
Philisiwe Sithole who has been unemployed since the Covid-19 pandemic said that she is looking forward to contributing to serving the communities and saving lives through the internship.
The Gauteng EMS used the opportunity to showcase the new resources procured to enhance the service standard.
