30 October 2007
The Minister of Health, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has urged the Western Cape
Health Department to begin a process of reviewing the name of a hospital in
Somerset West called Hottentots Holland Hospital.
Minister Tshabalala-Msimang made the call when she was responding to health
issues raised by the community during an community interaction event organised
by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) in Stellenbosch today (30 October).
The event is part of NCOP's programme of taking parliament to the people.
Hottentots Holland Hospital is a district level hospital which serves as a
referral centre for some of clinics and community health centres in
Stellenbosch.
"It is necessary that the provincial Health Department here in the Western
Cape begins a process of consulting the local community to consider the
possibility of reviewing this name. I really believe that our institutions need
to reflect the values of our democracy and human dignity both in terms of the
quality of services they provide as well as their names," said Minister
Tshabalala-Msimang.
She urged the Stellenbosch community to participate in decision-making about
health service delivery through active engagement in the clinic committees and
hospital boards that are established in terms of the National Health Act.
Minister Tshabalala-Msimang commended the facilities in the area for
implementing good tuberculosis (TB) and HIV and AIDS programmes. "I am very
encouraged by the fact that many of the facilities here have a TB cure rate
that is higher than the national average. Progress has also been made in
expanding access to Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) as well as HIV and
AIDS related care and treatment in this area."
Contact:
Sibani Mngadi
Cell: 082 772 0161
Issued by: Ministry of Health
30 October 2007
