The North West Department of Health and Social Development will continue to upscale and expand the training of community health workers in order to achieve the indicated targets to contribute to halving unemployment by 2014 through the delivery of community-based services.
Delivering the department’s R6.2 billion, MEC Rebecca Kasienyane said that a total of 5 330 caregivers will be put on a stipend in the current financial year.
Kasienyane said the department will strengthen integration with non-governmental organisation (NGOs), community-based organisations (CBOs), traditional leaders and municipalities in order to encourage women to visit health facilities once they miss their first period.
“The uptake of contraceptives is low and the department will conduct a survey which will identify reasons why women are not willing to use family planning,” she said.
In line with the Presidential orders of increasing access to antiretrovirals, the province is increasing antiretroviral (ARV) sites from 31 to 81.
“We will continue also intensify the fight against tuberculosis (TB) and this year, we will dispatch defaulter tracer teams to Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati and Ngaka Modiri Molema Districts,” she said.
Enquiries:
Tebogo Lekgethwane
Cell: 082 929 9958
E-mail: tlekgethwane@nwpg.gov.za
