Khayelitsha
Cape Town
14 February 2006
Programme Director;
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and gentlemen;
Last year, we held an imbizo to talk about the issues affecting this
community. Those who attended the event in April 2005 would remember how frank
the discussions were on that day. People were expressing their frustration
about some of the challenges facing health service delivery in the area.
The concerns raised by the community on that day included insufficient
health facilities, overcrowding, queuing for long hours and waiting outside
clinics because there was not enough space to use as waiting areas. The
concerns were genuine and required our urgent attention.
You would also remember that at the end of that gathering, I promised that
the MEC and I would get our Department to look into your concerns and that we
would return to give you a report because we are committed to improving the
lives of all South Africans.
We are here today to fulfil that promise. Our government does not make empty
promises. We do our best to ensure that we respond to the challenges facing our
people. Where there are no means to deliver, we report to our community and
jointly determine the best way in which those difficulties undermining service
delivery can be addressed.
We are well aware and appreciate the challenges you face in this area in the
light of high incidents of chronic diseases and unemployment. We are also aware
that although there is a year on year increase in the budget for Khayelitsha,
there remain challenges in achieving a fair distribution of health services in
this area.
We are confident though that both the Urban Renewal Projects and the
building of a new district hospital will go a long way in improving the health
services and bridging the inequity gaps. The Department of Healthâs social
capital project will contribute towards addressing some of the social
determinants of ill health to the improvement of the health indicators.
The Department of Health has been working round the clock to address your
concerns and we have achieved a great deal in the last nine months since our
visit to this area.
You will remember that there was an issue raised around long waiting times
at admission section and the need to improve procurement of goods and
communication.
We now have new technology installed at the three community health centres,
which are, Site B, Michael Mapongwana and Nolungile health centres. We have
provided a total of 20 printers and 31 computers with appropriate software
programmes including intranet and Groupwise.
More administration officers have been appointed to speed up patient
registration, procurement of goods and improve communication at these
facilities.
An X-ray machine has also been installed and is fully operational here at
Nolungile and a radiographer has been appointed to provide the service.
Shelter to provide appropriate accommodation for patients has been erected
at Michael Mapongwana Community Health Centre. This will ensure that people
attending the centre do not have to wait outside in the sun or rain.
We have established a new facility that should provide comprehensive health
services to survivors of rape and sexual assault. This Rape Survivor Service
Centre in stationed at Site B health centre and it operates 24 hours a day.
We have also made an undertaking to build a new community health centre at
Browns Farm to replace current prefab structure. It is pleasure for me to
report that a contract has been awarded to a construction company to commence
with this work.
The purpose of izimbizo is to ensure that communities are able to express
their views directly with their government representatives on various issues
affecting them. As government we have made a commitment to respond to those
issues raised by communities.
This interaction between government and the people should not be limited to
izimbizo convened by provincial and national leaders. It should be an ongoing
process at local level where services are rendered. I therefore urge you to
ensure that you have strong clinic committees in all these facilities to ensure
that the needs of the community are catered for in the planning and delivery of
health service.
We have fought for the achievement of a democratic state and a democratic
society. We have fought for the principle that the people shall govern. We have
an opportunity to enhance and deepen local democracy. We have an opportunity to
improve the participation of citizens in the process of decision-making, in the
allocation of resources, and the identification of local needs and
priorities.
We are determined to reduce unemployment and fight poverty, to provide the
skills required by the economy, and ensure that all South Africans are fully
able to enjoy the full dignity of freedom. These are not just promises, but are
commitments that we are determined to deliver on as we have done here
today.
I would like to thank all the government officials who have ensured that we
deliver these services as requested by the community of Khayelitsha. Thank you
very much for all your efforts in ensuring that we deliver to our people.
To the rest of the community, thank you very much for giving us the
opportunity to report back.
By working together, we can build a better community.
Thank you.
Issued by: Department of Health
14 February 2006
