Staff Reporter
The unbanning of alcohol sales at the beginning of last month has resulted in the Free State recording a significant rise in trauma cases at public hospitals, Health MEC Montseng Tsiu has said.
According to the MEC, there has been a jump of nearly 2 000 trauma cases received at public hospitals between April, when alcohol sales were prohibited under the national lockdown, and the end of June, after the ban was lifted.
She said in April, a total 5 378 cases were received across the province but the figure jumped to 6 294 in May and in June when the country moved to Alert Level 3, the number shot to 7 214.
“That clearly shows that as we go down the lockdown (Alert Levels), the numbers are increasing,” Tsiu said in a virtual address to the provincial legislature yesterday.
She was responding to a question on how the resumption of alcohol sales on June 1 had impacted on the health delivery system.
When the ban was introduced across the country at the beginning of the national lockdown on March 27, the government argued it would be difficult to instil social discipline and other health etiquette if people had access to alcohol as their judgment could be impaired.
It also argued the ban would reduce the number of trauma cases at hospitals and thereby create more space for COVID-19-related cases.
But with the resumption of alcohol sales, Tsiu expressed disappointment the figure had gone up and this could put pressure on the public health system which has a perennial shortage of staff and beds.
She said the figures were also rising sharply at the province’s largest referral health facility, Pelonomi Regional Hospital in Bloemfontein, and urged people to exercise caution.
In January, Pelonomi had 252 trauma cases; in February 261; March 265; April 54; May 61 and June 93.
Tsiu said people’s sober judgment is key to promoting social distancing and once they got drunk that becomes difficult to do.
“The unbanning of alcohol sales is not going to be helpful in COVID-19 management,” she said.
“We call on all to address this this. When people are drunk, they cannot socially distance.
“With less alcohol available, there has been a decrease in trauma cases at various hospitals.
“Fewer people have been involved in accidents, fewer people have been stabbed.
“It can never be the responsibility of government alone, but together we can do more.”