Staff Reporter

Gauteng Acting Head of Health Department, Dr Sibongile Zungu has urged community members to protect healthcare workers at all times.
This follows a serious of incidents in the recent months where health workers have been exposed to physical violence, some have been threatened while others were exposed to verbal aggression at the hands of patients and visitors in our facilities.
"Our paramedics and Forensic officials are also victims of abuse and this has to stop.  The fear instilled in health professionals through these violent acts affects the delivery of quality health care negatively," she added.
Dr Zungu said that the Department will strengthen security in our facilities but it will take community members to realise that health workers are there to ensure that they are treated with dignity and respect at their most vulnerable moment, during times of ill health.
The Acting Head of Department also urged all health workers who have not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 to do so and also those who need to get their booster jabs to also use the opportunity.
"Let us all be ambassadors and spread the message to encourage all those above the 12 years of age to vaccinate so they can protect themselves against the virus as well as our health workers who work tirelessly to ensure their good health," concluded Dr Zungu.