The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department activated and deployed resources to aid in the evacuation of patients at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, following a fire that broke out at the hospital on Friday, 16 April 2021.

A call for aid was received from the acting Head of Department of the Gauteng Department of Health through the Head of the Gauteng Provincial Disaster Management Centre.

The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department immediately deployed a major incident unit bus along with a special infectious unit ambulance and an intensive care ambulance.

The major incident unit bus, the first of its kind in the country, and the two special ambulances transported 48 patients from Charlotte Maxeke Hospital to Tshwane District Hospital, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital and Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital within 30 hours.

The major incident unit bus evacuated adult and pediatric patients, while the special ambulances evacuated a COVID-19 intensive care unit patient and a maternity patient who required emergency surgery.

“I am proud of the Emergency Services Department personnel selflessly working for more than thirty hours, driving distances of more 50 kilometers to and from Tshwane District and Charlotte Maxeke Hospitals, about 18 kilometers to and from Charlotte Maxeke and Chris Hani Baragwanath and about 3 kilometers to and from the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospitals,” said Alderman Karen Meyer, the MMC responsible for Community Safety in the City of Tshwane. .

Report a fire or life-threatening emergency on 107 or alternatively call 012 358 6300/6400.

Issued by the City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department.