Praise for new clinics

The communities of Mammutla, near Taung, Tlapeng and Moshoana villages, outside Ganyesa, sang and danced a welcome to a new life of decent health.

This was after health MEC Magome Masike officially opened new clinics in the areas on Wednesday and Friday, respectively.

Old, dilapidated structures paved the way for new modern clinics valued at R32m, including construction and equipment.

The new structures consist of consultation rooms and waiting areas, which helps to eliminate long queues for health care services.

The delivery of clinics is sequel to promises made by the health MEC during his budget speech last year after assessing the hectic conditions under which nurses worked.

Masike said the new clinics would help the department to achieve the goal of improving the health profile by rendering basic primary health care services.

This will include treatment of communicable diseases, emergency services, family planning, tuberculosis, maternal and child health, minor ailments and chronic illnesses, among others.

Annah Botsile, 70, from Moshaona, said: "The clinic is now bigger and can accommodate more people, unlike before when we were queuing outside.

"That was a problem, especially during rainy, windy, cold and very hot days." Masike said the department in its analysis of the province's geographical settings recognised Dr Ruth Mompati district municipality as the most rural and under-serviced of all districts.

"As we prepare for the National Health Insurance (NHI), it is therefore important that we improve the state of our facilities, like clinics and hospital, especially in rural areas," he said.

"We want people to fully benefit from the NHI by the time it is rolled out to all the districts."

Ganyesa Hospital and Bloemhof Community Health Centre, casualty and pharmacy, were refurbished to help with the bulk storage of medication and essential drugs.

The department was implementing the re-engineering of the primary health care programme as a vehicle for the NHI to improve access to healthcare,

to provide accommodation for health professionals at health facilities in rural areas, ensure availability of medication and other essential drugs, cleanliness of facilities and reduction of maternal and child mortality.