​Timely access to quality emergency care can reduce avoidable death and disability by up to 50%, according to the World Health Organisation. 
In response to this urgent need, healthcare professionals from across Gauteng gathered at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University in Ga-Rankuwa on Wednesday, 20 August, for the province's inaugural Advanced Airway Management Symposium.
This vital initiative, attended by Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, was designed to empower doctors, nurses, and paramedics with life-saving emergency care skills, particularly in airway management during trauma and resuscitation. 
The symposium offered hands-on training in opening blocked airways, performing emergency procedures, and using the latest equipment to assist patients in breathing during life-threatening situations such as accidents, heart attacks, and critical injuries.
"Airway management is not just a technical skill; it is the difference between saving a life and losing it. Every clinician who leaves here today more confident and better prepared is another step toward a health system our people can trust in their darkest hour," said MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko.
The symposium was a collaborative effort between Gauteng Health Emergency Management Services, Lebone College of Emergency Care, Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, and private sector partners. This partnership brought together expertise and resources to strengthen emergency care across the province, ensuring that healthcare workers remain equipped with the latest techniques and research in a safe, practical environment.
Further strengthening Gauteng's emergency response capabilities, the Gauteng EMS has introduced ICU ambulances equipped with advanced life support systems and specialised airway management tools. 
These mobile intensive care units feature ventilators, endotracheal tubes, suction devices, bag-valve masks, surgical cricothyrotomy kits, and alternative airway devices such as laryngeal mask airways. These tools empower paramedics to secure and manage airways effectively during transport, even in the most critical scenarios.
In addition to ICU ambulances, all primary response vehicles and ambulances in the province meet, and in many cases exceed, the minimum equipment requirements as outlined in EMS regulations. This ensures that emergency teams are consistently prepared to deliver high-quality care from the moment they arrive on scene.
By investing in both training and technology, the GDoH is reinforcing its commitment to building a responsive and resilient healthcare system, one that saves lives when every second counts.