30 October 2007
Health MEC, Mrs Nomsa Jajula, officially opened the Nyalasa Clinic in
Nyalasa Village, Cala on 29 October 2007. This is the 54th clinic the MEC has
opened this year alone. The clinic is situated in rural Cala, 30 kilometres
from the town, with a population of about 10 000. The clinic was supposed to be
opened next year but its opening and completion was accelerated in order to
accelerate access.
Traditional leaders, councillors, elders, students and locals were all
present at the ceremony with even the gutsy winds and challenging roads not
deterring the people from packing the colossal tents put up near the clinic.
The government's vision to provide quality healthcare for all is being realised
by providing access to quality health care by the establishment of health
facilities in rural areas, the MEC said.
The MEC reminded the people of the contract, the public representatives have
with the people and their resolve to bring services to people in partnership
with local government. The MEC promised the community that the clinic will be
operational for 24 hours. She appealed to the community to protect the nurses
as the nurses are there to serve the people.
Mr Richard Rasmeni, community member spoke heartily about the change the
clinic would make in the community. He spoke about the long distances the
community had to travel in the past in order to get to the Tembelihle Clinic in
Cala because no one in the community had a car. He related stories of deaths
and children breaking legs whilst playing and having to use beds as stretchers
and tear trousers to use as bandages."
He commended the government and said he sees what the government has done
for the people of Nyalasa. People that die will be handled with dignity by
professional people, Mr Rasmeni added. General Manager for District Health
Services, Mrs ZZ Macingwane spoke about the services the clinic would offer the
community, among them being the living of healthy lifestyles. She mentioned the
affordability, accessibility and efficiency which the clinic would bring to the
community.
In her concluding remarks the MEC encouraged kids to abstain from sex and
encouraged people to know their status. She emphasised that the nurses would
conduct home visits and school promoting services. Guata Junior Secondary
School was presented with a First Aid Kit by the MEC by being an exemplary
Health Promoting School in the area. Nurses were on standby to test people for
high blood and HIV as well as other diseases.
Issued by: Department of Health, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
30 October 2007
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecdoh.gov.za)
