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By Sihle Mlambo 
3h ago
Johannesburg – Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has implored South Africans to make sacrifices this holiday season for the good of all.
Mkhize, speaking Saturday during the World Universal Health Day virtual event, said that people had to make a choice: life, illness or death.
He again warned South Africans that the second wave of Covid-19 would do more damage than the first wave.
South Africa entered the second wave of the coronavirus this week, with daily new infections rising from 6,000 on Monday to more than 8,000 new infections a day for the rest of the week.
Before this week, the last time new infections peaked at more than 6,000 infections per day was on August 14.
Eastern Cape, Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Gauteng accounted for the vast majority of new cases.
“The time has come for South Africans to make a choice: life or illness and death.
“If we choose life, then we must realize that we have to make sacrifices during this festive season.
“It will not be possible to celebrate the holidays as we are used to.
“Now we must understand that the frivolities generally associated with the holiday season must give way to the things that really matter: family and friends, mutual care, physical and spiritual rejuvenation, and preservation of the spirit of ubuntu,” he said. .
He called on everyone to commit to saving lives and protecting each other, adhering to small gatherings, responsible drinking, frequent disinfection or washing of hands and surfaces, social distancing, and constant use of masks.
“This year, as we commemorate World Universal Health Coverage Day under the slogan ‘protect everyone’, we find ourselves in the middle of a second wave that seems determined to outshine the first.
“As we face the severe storm that is approaching us, I must take the opportunity to appeal to the public, particularly our youth, to be fully aware of their agency and the role they must play in protecting all from the devastation of Covid-19. ”He said, adding that the government would do everything possible to fight the virus that has already claimed the lives of 20,000 people in South Africa.
“But this virus can only be defeated by the sense of duty and compassion of each and every South African.
“Only you have the power to stop Covid-19,” Mkhize said.
Meanwhile, Mkhize said that his performance agreement that he had signed with President Cyril Ramaphosa said that the country will achieve 90% universal health coverage through the government’s NHI policy by 2030.
“The preamble to the NHI bill recognizes the injustices, imbalances and socioeconomic inequalities of the past; the need to heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights; and the need to improve the quality of life of all citizens and unleash the potential of each person.
“Subsequently, it urges us to achieve the progressive realization of the right of access to quality personal health care services by moving towards the achievement of Universal Health Coverage, while ensuring financial protection of the costs of health care.
“The bill fundamentally aims to achieve this by pooling public revenues in order to actively and strategically purchase health care services based on the principles of universality and social solidarity,” said Mkhize.
He also said that the Covid-19 pandemic had given private and government healthcare providers the ability to pool resources and work together for the first time.
“Although the government led the response both financially and strategically, it was ultimately through multisectoral working relationships that the successful expression of social compaction was achieved, the manifestations of which were high awareness of the disease, community mobilization and acceptance, Active citizenship and an evidence-based government response through a high level of consultation with all key stakeholders.
“Therefore, we are very encouraged by the progress that has been made towards universal health coverage in this country, even as we face a significant setback with the arrival of Covid-19.
“Indeed, despite our valiant efforts not to deviate from our path to universal health coverage, the pandemic has made its impact felt.
“However, as a government, we remain determined not to change the objectives and stick to the plan, for the good of our people, whose constitutional right to quality health care can never be compromised,” said the minister.
MESS
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