MyZA

News, Directory, Events and Other Stuff

You are here: Home / News / We Demand Immediate Answers

We Demand Immediate Answers

Dear Editor

The National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) failed to provide satisfactory answers to critical questions regarding the ongoing anti-venom crisis in a meeting of the Health Portfolio Committee last week.

The DA has already submitted Parliamentary Questions (PQs) to demand the answers the NHLS has failed to give and will be requesting that they return to the committee to provide clarity on the following issues:

Vial production and shortages:
We asked the NHLS how many vials of anti-venom they have produced since 2023, and where shortages are occurring. Despite the life-threatening nature of this crisis, the NHLS failed to provide clear information on these vital statistics.

Renovations at SAVP:
The DA also sought details on the cost and timeline of the renovations at the South African Vaccine Producers (SAVP) facility. The public deserves to know what is being done to resolve this situation and how long these renovations will take. Regrettably, we did not receive sufficient answers.

Lack of procedures during renovations:
In light of the renovations, the DA specifically asked why no procedures were put in place to ensure the continued production of anti-venom. The failure to prepare for this eventuality is a glaring oversight that continues to cost lives, and NHLS has failed to explain why this was allowed to happen.

Given the unsatisfactory responses from the NHLS last week, the DA will now formally request that the NHLS and SAVP appear before the Portfolio Committee on Health as a matter of urgency. The public needs answers, and this crisis, which has allegedly already resulted in unnecessary deaths, must be addressed immediately.

The DA remains committed to ensuring that the NHLS is held accountable for its failures in ensuring the supply of anti-venom. The lives of thousands of South Africans, especially in rural areas, are at stake, and we will not rest until the NHLS provides the full accountability that the situation demands.

Regards

Michele Clarke MP
DA Spokesperson on Health

Category: Tag:

If you feel strongly about this article then feel free to send MyZA a ‘Letter to the Editor’ using the submission form below:

Letter to the Editor

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
If this is in response to an article please include that article title here or as the lead in for the first paragraph of your Letter below.

Separate tags with commas

Localise your letter by naming the city your words are about. Add relevant words describing your subject. Single comma separated words of no more than 5
Your Name(Required)
Your Name will be linked to the website below.
Your personal, business or social media web site
Choose NO to not set up a user account on MyZA. User Accounts will allow you to submit letters under your own Author Name

3 Latest Letters to the Editor:

  • Fun South African fact

    Dear Editor Fun South African fact: towns like Franschhoek and Stellenbosch are home to world-class wine farms set in stunning, scenic surroundings. Regards Aressa Smith In Response to/From: Luxury Properties Seized in New Lottery Crackdown

  • Condolences on the Passing of Lusanda Dumke

    Statement by Leander Kruger MPL – DA Buffalo City Constituency Leader: The Democratic Alliance in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality mourns the passing of Springbok Women’s rugby player and Mdantsane trailblazer, Lusanda Dumke, who lost her battle with cancer at the age of 28. South Africa has lost an exceptional athlete, a leader, and a source…

  • Rape Kits Delivered, But…

    Statement by Nicholas Gotsell MP – DA NCOP Member on Security & Justice: The DA can confirm that 2 840 rape kits arrived in Cape Town on Monday, following sustained DA oversight and pressure after multiple police stations across the Western Cape were found to be without this critical forensic evidence tool. While this delivery…

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. The sole purpose of your middle name is so you know when you are in real trouble with your mother

  2. Did you knowthis about South Africa? South Africa celebrates its annual Heritage Day on 24 September. On this day, South Africans get together to celebrate their diverse cultures, traditions and beliefs. You’ll most likely find people enjoying a braai (barbecue) and dressed in traditional garb.