Bolstering emergency care through tech, public-private partnerships

By Faith Mazibuko Imagine collapsing at the entrance of a clinic and, instead of receiving the immediate help you need, you must be collected and pushed to another area because the equipment required to resuscitate you is not readily available where you are.

In an emergency, every second matters.

The availability of appropriate equipment can make an important difference in the response to a patient who is unresponsive and requires urgent medical intervention.

This is why the donation of six Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) by Shenzhen Comen Medical Instruments company to healthcare facilities in Gauteng is more than the provision of medical equipment.

It is an investment in emergency readiness, improved healthcare access and the potential to save lives.

The six AEDs were donated directly to Stanza Bopape Community Health Centre in Tshwane, Jabulani Dumane Community Health Centre and Esangweni Clinic in Ekurhuleni, Naledi Clinic in Soweto, Johannesburg, Bekkersdal West Community Health Centre in the West Rand, and Sharpeville Clinic in Sedibeng.

These facilities serve communities across the province, with the Community Health Centres operating 24 hours a day.

Their location within communities makes them important points of access for residents requiring urgent medical attention.

These machines are portable, lightweight, easy to carry around a healthcare facility and they are powered by a battery that can last for two years without charging and will only be replaced after the two-year lifespan, a function that will be very useful during a power outage.

This means that the equipment can be brought closer to a patient who is unresponsive and requires emergency resuscitation, rather than waiting for the patient to be moved to a location where the equipment is available.

The devices provide voice prompts to guide healthcare professionals through the connection process.

They can be used for both adults and children, with equipment providing guidance on switching between adult and paediatric modes.

This feature is important in supporting appropriate use and reducing the risk of incorrect application when treating children.

The company has also committed to a two-year warranty and free service of the machines for two years.