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1. As a doctor in South Africa, although i was worried about our healthcare system when the pandemic began, I was optimistic knowing we had passionate doctors in many areas of the country, and the government’s initial commitment to this crisis was great. My views have changed
2. Since then a lot has become apparent, that has made me terrified for my family, friends, healthcare workers and South Africans at large.
3. After months of preparation, although our systems and raw resources are slightly better. We STILL do not have adequate PPE. We STILL are suffering in a system where is nowhere near coping with this. Coupled to these issues, the government has cut funds to employ Doctors
4. So now the only real ace up our sleeves- the passionate healthcare workers who work tirelessly, far over their working hours, doing things far above their rank often is something we actually have less of than when we started this pandemic.
5. All around the country i know so many doctors who have completed community service who are unable to get jobs in the public sector because posts are frozen as a result of the government squandering money.
6. The Doctors and healthcare workers that are left are burnt out and tired. I watch my friends who started the year as caring, hard working people be completely disillusioned by this system, too broken to see patient after patient in the never ending line as we used to.
7. Health care workers are ill, many have died, many have family workers that are ill, and many have lost loved ones. And yet they continue to work, and try to do their best. This is difficult enough without watching people not care and go about business as usual
8. I have heard stories of people who are sick, and know they may have COVID, go to their workplaces and continue infecting others. How are we as healthcare workers meant to deal with this mentally
9. The trauma cases seen around this time of year are already so much to deal with. Now I have to deal with the drunk driver who is critical but injured/murdered multiple others, while knowing this person is taking up my time while another young patient with COVID is critical.
10. Yes, we have to treat and not ask questions. Yes we try our best not to judge and serve every one. But we are human too, and the mental strain this is placing on so many in the healthcare system is impossible to deal with.
11. And amongst all this sadness, and death at work and at home. We still are dealing with an unyielding environment of senior staff, sometimes corrupt consultants/managers who do not manage their health systems and chose to pocket state money while sitting at home.
12. The government at every level continues to steal money meant for health while employed doctors suffer in this work environment, and unemployed doctors sit at home struggling to feed their families
13. I was worried at the start of this pandemic. But now I am terrified. People around me are sick, and I hear of new people dying every day. The government and many citizens of this country need to wake the fuck up.
14. Your fighters in this pandemic are tired. Give us a reason to keep fighting. Allow us to keep fighting.
15. Amongst all of this I hear a young doctor in final year medicine in the Western Cape has passed away from COVID-19. RIP. Sorry that we have failed you 
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