Update on Health facilities in Knysna affected by the fire

Due to the fire disaster that has occurred in Kynsna which has damaged many parts of the area, I am visiting Knysna and George today to assess the situation and show support to our staff. Even though our Provincial Hospital has not caught fire, our patients have been evacuated as a precautionary measure to ensure their safety.

I am scheduled to be at the George Disaster Management Centre at 13:30; from there I will go to Knysna to visit patients who have been moved into the two private facilities; Life and Advance Health Hospitals . Twenty of our patients have been evacuated to the private hospitals and 62 patients have been discharged and moved to the Vineyard Church Hall. I will also be paying a visit to the Church Hall at the end of the day to interact with those who have been affected by this tragedy.

Tomorrow, 9 June, I will visit the Mosselbay hospital to assess the damage to the roof of the hospital male ward and receive a briefing on the contingency plans.

Four of Knysna’s Primary Healthcare (PHC) facilities Kranshoek, Keurhoek, Hornlee and Khayalethu have been closed and a central PHC service is run at the Knysna Town Clinic while a central emergency centre is run at the Knysna Community Day Centre.  

The South African Defence Force has set-up a mobile clinic to treat the people for smoke inhalation and they are being assisted by our Primary Healthcare staff.

I am pleased to note that all our staff and patients are safe and unharmed. We are very grateful for the outpouring of support of local government, the broader community, the Facility Board and our colleagues from disaster management. I would like to specially thank our District Management staff for acting as quickly as possible to evacuate patients. A disaster of this scale requires our staff to think on their feet.

I would like to convey my deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones because of the fires and storms in the Province. Our hearts are also with the families who have been displaced from their homes.