The Department of Military Veterans’ campaign to issue 4 800 healthcare cards to military veterans in KwaZulu-Natal was a major success. It was launched on 15 October 2013 by the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa Nqakula.
The next phase of the campaign is to distribute 388 medical healthcare cards to military veterans in Polokwane, starting from 23 October 2013 at Polokwane Sickbay and 24 October at Vhembe Sickbay.
All military veterans who are to be issued with healthcare cards are expected to bring along the following documents: a copy of a green bar coded ID, proof of income (or affidavit if unemployed) and the letter that they have received from the Department of Military Veterans.
“We are elated by the massive success of this critical campaign, which is aimed at improving the lives of military veterans as mandated by the Military Veterans Act 18 of 2011. The health of military veterans is important to us, as it symbolises our commitment to providing care and support to military veterans in honour of their contributions to freedom, democracy, reconciliation, social cohesion and nation building” said the Director General, Mr Tsepe Motumi.
Six hundred and twenty four (624) healthcare cards out of the targeted 800 healthcare cards (over 75%) were distributed to military veterans between the 15 and 17 October 2013 at the Air Force Base, Durban International and the Bluff Sickbay respectively. 227 health care cards were distributed on the 15th, 163 on the 16th at the Air force Base and 249 were distributed on the 17th at the Bluff Sickbay in Durban.
The DG further said, "We take this opportunity to thank the military veterans for their cooperation, the South African Medical Health Services for their support in providing infrastructure and production of these healthcare cards. We also thank the Military Veterans Healthcare Practitioners Association (MVHPA) for the invaluable services they rendered including counselling and voluntary check-up to military veterans".
The campaign is expected to be rolled out to North West, 29 - 31 October 2013, Mpumalanga, 6 - 8 October, Free State, 12 - 13 November 2013, Western Cape, 19 - 20 November, Gauteng 22 and 29 November, Northern Cape, 26-27 November, Eastern Cape, 3 - 4 December 2013, East London Sickbay, 5 December.
