The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) may be roped in to assist with another looming traditional circumcision crisis in the Eastern Cape in an effort to curb deaths and injuries this season.
The safe circumcision senior manager at the department of health, Dr Luvuyo Bayeni, revealed they were engaging the SANDF to assist by establishing six field hospitals and security.
“The department is pursuing a partnership with the SANDF whereby we request ... their military health services in the form of field hospitals,” said Bayeni.
More than 500 initiates have died in the past six years.
Last year, 37 and 28 initiates died in the winter and summer circumcision seasons respectively. In the winter season this year, 29 young men died and 17 had penile amputations. Most of the deaths this year – 20 of the 29 – were reported in the OR Tambo district.
“From the SANDF we are expecting partnership in the form of the actual tents to make field hospitals, the personnel – including health practitioners like doctors and nurses – and also non-medical staff,” said Bayeni.
He hoped the SANDF would also assist in securing the areas where the field hospitals were to be established to prevent criminal elements.
Bayeni said the main reasons the department wanted field hospitals were:
lTo enhance, protect, nurture and preserve the traditional rite;
lTo reduce hospital admissions, respond to hospital bedding management issues and prevent overcrowding;
lTo circumvent the stigma of admission in a hospital for an initiate while still offering professional services and medical intervention;
lTo provide more personnel, both medical and non-medical.
“We would then know that our provincial and regional hospitals would be reserved specifically for those who really needed hospital admission, for instance in the form of ICU care.
“But the majority of initiates, where we are just doing dressings and intravenous antibiotics, can be managed better in field hospitals,” said Bayeni.
He said they had requested field hospitals to be set up in Mbizana in the Alfred Nzo district and in all five sub-districts of OR Tambo, namely Qawukeni, Nyandeni, King Sabata Dalindyebo, Mhlontlo and Port St Johns.
The department has written to the SANDF and they are now waiting for a meeting to finalise the process.
“We hope that between now and the summer season this will materialise.”
SANDF spokesman Brigadier General Xolani Mabanga was unable to confirm the approach by the provincial health authorities at the time of writing yesterday.
Contralesa general secretary Xolile Ndevu said the main problem in hotspot areas was criminal behaviour.
“If the SANDF comes in with those services, it will assist us in what we have been trying to achieve – that the initiates be given medical help where they are based.
“We are trying to ensure that they do not bring women.
“In their teams we want to ensure that they bring soldiers who have already gone through the ritual as well. We support the initiative.”
The chairman of the house of traditional leaders, Chief Ngangomhlaba Mtanzima, said he had not been informed of the plan.
“We do not know where the security will be – to do what where?
“Where does this come from? It should be a decision of the security cluster, not just one department, because there are many issues to consider such as where the soldiers will stay, what they will eat, whether there is a need to rope them in – there are costs involved.”
Bayeni said during the winter circumcision season this year, many initiates died of septicaemia, whereas in the past dehydration and assault were recorded as the main causes of death.
“Septicaemia is a reflection of wound care.
“It means that as the health department, we must skill traditional surgeons and nurses on wound management.
“Of the 29 winter initiation deaths, 23 died of septicaemia.”
Last season seven general practitioners were contracted to assist with initiation injuries in OR Tambo district and two others in Alfred Nzo district.
Health asks army for help in rite season
The safe circumcision senior manager at the department of health, Dr Luvuyo Bayeni, revealed they were engaging the SANDF to assist by establishing six field hospitals and security.
“The department is pursuing a partnership with the SANDF whereby we request ... their military health services in the form of field hospitals,” said Bayeni.
More than 500 initiates have died in the past six years.
Last year, 37 and 28 initiates died in the winter and summer circumcision seasons respectively. In the winter season this year, 29 young men died and 17 had penile amputations. Most of the deaths this year – 20 of the 29 – were reported in the OR Tambo district.
“From the SANDF we are expecting partnership in the form of the actual tents to make field hospitals, the personnel – including health practitioners like doctors and nurses – and also non-medical staff,” said Bayeni.
He hoped the SANDF would also assist in securing the areas where the field hospitals were to be established to prevent criminal elements.
Bayeni said the main reasons the department wanted field hospitals were:
lTo enhance, protect, nurture and preserve the traditional rite;
lTo reduce hospital admissions, respond to hospital bedding management issues and prevent overcrowding;
lTo circumvent the stigma of admission in a hospital for an initiate while still offering professional services and medical intervention;
lTo provide more personnel, both medical and non-medical.
“We would then know that our provincial and regional hospitals would be reserved specifically for those who really needed hospital admission, for instance in the form of ICU care.
“But the majority of initiates, where we are just doing dressings and intravenous antibiotics, can be managed better in field hospitals,” said Bayeni.
He said they had requested field hospitals to be set up in Mbizana in the Alfred Nzo district and in all five sub-districts of OR Tambo, namely Qawukeni, Nyandeni, King Sabata Dalindyebo, Mhlontlo and Port St Johns.
The department has written to the SANDF and they are now waiting for a meeting to finalise the process.
“We hope that between now and the summer season this will materialise.”
SANDF spokesman Brigadier General Xolani Mabanga was unable to confirm the approach by the provincial health authorities at the time of writing yesterday.
Contralesa general secretary Xolile Ndevu said the main problem in hotspot areas was criminal behaviour.
“If the SANDF comes in with those services, it will assist us in what we have been trying to achieve – that the initiates be given medical help where they are based.
“We are trying to ensure that they do not bring women.
“In their teams we want to ensure that they bring soldiers who have already gone through the ritual as well. We support the initiative.”
The chairman of the house of traditional leaders, Chief Ngangomhlaba Mtanzima, said he had not been informed of the plan.
“We do not know where the security will be – to do what where?
“Where does this come from? It should be a decision of the security cluster, not just one department, because there are many issues to consider such as where the soldiers will stay, what they will eat, whether there is a need to rope them in – there are costs involved.”
Bayeni said during the winter circumcision season this year, many initiates died of septicaemia, whereas in the past dehydration and assault were recorded as the main causes of death.
“Septicaemia is a reflection of wound care.
“It means that as the health department, we must skill traditional surgeons and nurses on wound management.
“Of the 29 winter initiation deaths, 23 died of septicaemia.”
Last season seven general practitioners were contracted to assist with initiation injuries in OR Tambo district and two others in Alfred Nzo district.
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