В ЮАР новый главный хирург вооруженных сил принял командование над военным здравоохранением

The healthcare arm of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) – the SA Military Health Service (SAMHS) – welcomed its newest surgeon general with a change of command parade in Thaba Tshwane on Friday 4 September. Outgoing Surgeon General, Lieutenant General (Dr) Ntshavheni Maphaha, handed management of the organisation to the officer who served as his deputy, newly minted Lieutenant General (Dr) Nsizwa Skosana. Previous posts held by Skosana include General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Military Hospital and Chief Director Military Health Force Support of the Erasmuskloof, Pretoria-headquartered military healthcare service. Skosana was presented with his third star by SANDF Chief, General Rudzani Maphwanya, at the Pretoria Military Sports Club. “The promotion and appointment mark a significant milestone in the leadership of the SAMHS, as Skosana assumes responsibility for providing strategic leadership and direction to military health services in support of the SANDF operational mandate,” SAMHS Corporate Communication said adding he “brings extensive clinical, operational and military health leadership experience to the position” as well as pointing out his service alongside Maphaha gave him “a strong understanding of the organisation, its people and its operational responsibilities”. During his term of service Maphaha adopted the slogan “towards military health excellence” as his rallying cry. This is evidenced by, among others, infrastructure modernisation and upgrades; “enhancement” of the SAMHS operational ambulance fleet; strengthening frontline medical support and improving patient care. Going back to its formation – and name change from the SA Medical Service (SAMS) when the SANDF came into being – the first surgeon general was Lieutenant General Daniel Knobel (27 April 1994 to 30 November 1997) who was in post as SAMS Chief when the name change came. He was followed by – all at the rank of lieutenant general – Davidson Masuku (1 December 1997 to 30 September 2000), Jurinus Janse van Rensburg (1 October 2000 to 31 July 2005), Vejay Ramlakan (1 August 2005 to 32 March 2013), Aubrey Sedibe (1 April 2013 to 31 October 2019), Zola Dabula (1 November 2019 to 31 October 2021) and Maphaha, who assumed office on 1 November 2021. Another promotion in the SAMHS came last week when Skosana promoted Major General Azwihangwisi Makumbane to the position of Chief Director Military Health Force Preparation. The appointment reinforces the South African Military Health Service’s commitment to maintaining operational readiness and ensuring the provision of quality military health services in support of the health and well-being of the force, the SAMHS said. In her new role, Makumbane will contribute to strengthening military health force preparation and ensuring that the South African Military Health Service remains ready and equipped to fulfil its mandate in support of the South African National Defence Force. Ahead of exiting office, Maphaha toured the units he commanded and this included taking back into service the revamped and refurbished military sickbay in Saldanha Bay in July. In mid-August the SAMHS officially opened a new R624 million military hospital in Forest Hill, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). What began as a sickbay was transformed into a modern 30-bed military hospital. The facility provides primary healthcare services, a 24-hour casualty and emergency care unit, a fully equipped surgical theatre, a modern diagnostic radiology suite, dental services, a full-service pharmacy, a 72-hour admission medical and surgical ward, a paediatric ward, as well as ancillary health and rehabilitation services. The new medical establishment is one of only four military hospitals in South Africa, making it a significant addition to the country’s military healthcare infrastructure. “You will understand that when you have a healthy military community and you know what the mandate of the South African National Defence Force is, that will directly translate into the health community of South Africa,” Maphaha said during the opening. “Our slogan at SAMHS says ‘Towards Military Excellence’. And I believe this facility moves us a step closer to that.” “The facility provides advanced technology that will ensure that we provide health services in an effective, efficient and economical way. The economic way is that we need to stop relying on the private sector, where we spend a lot of money,” he said. The hospital will serve approximately 9 000 beneficiaries in Gqeberha, Makhanda, Mthatha and surrounding areas, bringing quality healthcare closer to South African National Defence Force members, their dependants and military veterans.