“This time is the busiest period of the year at the Hospital – known as the paediatric surge season,” explains Dr Heloise Buys, Head of Emergency Centre and Paramedical Services at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. “Acute respiratory diseases prevalent during surge season remain the biggest killers of children under the age of five – especially those living in overcrowded, smoky environments, and our hospital beds are full of patients suffering from seasonal diseases such as bronchitis and pneumonia.”
“With the Emergency Centre as the frontline and receiving unit for all new patients, we anticipate this to escalate due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are particularly concerned for children with weakened immune systems who could be more vulnerable to contracting the virus. The COVID-19 pandemic has made life more complicated for all of us, and preparation is key to deal with what is to come,” she adds.
There are two divisions in the Emergency Centre of the Hospital – medical emergencies as mentioned above and trauma-related emergencies. Professor Sebastian van As, Head of Trauma Division at the Emergency Centre also describes a change in the nature of injuries of children admitted to the centre during lockdown.
“Traffic-related injuries are reduced, but while children are confined to their homes, they are more at risk of being burned by open fires or boiling liquids as they play in and around the kitchen. We’re also seeing more children being injured in falls when they fall out of bed, for example,” says Prof. Van As. Tragically, he has also seen an increase in the number of children who have been admitted with injuries as a result of abuse. He attributes this to increased tension in the home, due to frustration, financial worries or stress.
The Emergency Centre also provides a safe space for children and their families and this is where the work of Carla Brown and her colleagues becomes critical. Mrs Brown is the Manager of Social Work Services at the Hospital. Every day, she and her team provide counsel to patients and families who are grappling with trauma, news of life-changing diagnoses and bereavement. The new Child Protection Room will become critical for children who have experienced violence and abuse.
As it has for everyone, the coronavirus crisis will continue to significantly impact on the Hospital – especially within the Emergency Centre. In the face of these challenges, the project to expand and upgrade the Centre is even more imperative.
Dr Mukosi, CEO of the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, stresses on the importance of this, “Our public health system has always been under severe strain largely due to high burden of infectious diseases and trauma. This pressure is largely evident in our Emergency Centres. COVID-19 pandemic will stretch our health system even further.
“You can play your part by assisting Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital to complete an upgrade of the Emergency Centre that is currently underway. The upgraded Emergency Centre will provide a much-needed facility to deal with the large volume of patients requiring acute care in a child-friendly environment.”
Despite lock down delays, we’re excited that phase 1 is nearing completion and phase 2 will begin in September 2020.
The cost of the upgrade and expansion is R122 million and we are pleased that almost R70 million has been raised to date. We are grateful to every person who has supported the project thus far – thank you! You too can invest in the lives of sick and injured children by helping us raise the remaining R52 million to complete the upgrade and expansion of the centre. Together we can make this happen.
