AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER
THE raging fire that forced the evacuation of over 470 patients and the closure of one of Africa’s largest hospitals, the Charlotte Maxeke in Johannesburg, South Africa, has been extinguished, the Gauteng Health Department has announced.
Kwara Kekana, Gauteng Health spokesperson, the site has been handed over to fire safety investigators for an investigation into the cause of the fire.
Kekana said all patients have been transferred to other hospitals around Gauteng. The health department has provided information that families of those affected by the fire and out patients can use to get help.
Kekana said: “The process of informing the patient’ relatives is underway. Families and loved ones can also make enquiries through the Gauteng Citizens Relationship Management Hotline at 0800 222 8827 or 0800 428 8364 or email [email protected] or [email protected].
“Arrangement are being made to accommodate planned caeserean and urgent surgeries. Affected patients will be engaged on the process. All those in need who are on chronic medication are advised to take their script to their nearest facilities for assistance.”
Firefighters battled for over 24 hours to contain the fire, which has destroyed some parts of the hospital but has not led to any fatalities.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura has announced that the hospital has been closed for seven days. He and senior officials from the Gauteng department met with hospital management to assess the damage.
“The fire has been contained but we have to unfortunately shut down the hospital to ensure that we don’t put the patients and staff at risk. There was no loss of life as a result of the fire but we must take precautionary measures because the smoke coming out is headed to different wards,” Makhura said.
He said the fire had not reached the wards but there was damage in the packing area and the storeroom.
Makhura said a call centre has been set up for families who want to know the whereabouts of the patients.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
