N Nkonyeni: Meeting of KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Health Council

3 April 2007

A warm welcome to all the members of this august body, it is our fervent
wish that you and your brethren are well and in good health. We meet again this
year to remind each other of the tasks we committed ourselves to as we strive
for a better health for all. As members of the Provincial Health Council we
need to know all the time that we are a body whose formation is:
informed by the National Health Act, Act No.61 of 2003 and as such guided by
the Constitution itself. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa,
fellow council members, requires of us to honour the right of every citizen to
have access to:
* healthcare services, including reproductive healthcare
* sufficient food and water and
* social security, including assistance to people who cannot support themselves
and their dependents.

Respected members of the council, your role entails providing me with advice
on policy concerning any matter that will protect, promote, improve and
maintain the health status of the population of this province. This may entail
epidemiological surveillance and monitoring of provincial trends with regard to
major diseases and risk factors for disease and goes on to include providing
guidance for the management of health districts. For us here to be relevant to
the health needs of our people and for you as members of the council to be able
to advice the executive appropriately, we all have to fully comprehend the
strategic goals that the Department of Health seek to attain for our populace.
These are:
* effective implementation of HIV/AIDS strategy
* strengthening of primary healthcare and the provisioning of caring,
responsive and quality health service at all levels
* addressing poverty by promoting health, preventing and managing illnesses
with emphasis on lifestyle, trauma and violence
* strengthening of service delivery through good
governance, human resource management and strategic partnerships
* infrastructure investment in health technology, communication and
buildings.

In all platforms we make it clear that the government on its own cannot win
the war against disease, poverty and helplessness hence today we have to
appraise one another of stakeholders involved in the well-being of our
people.
These include:
* labour organisations that are active in the health
sector
* non-governmental and non-profit organisations whose business lies primarily
in health
* for profit organisations such as hospital groups, pharmaceutical companies
and health technology suppliers
* faith based organisations that have an active interest in healthcare and
health service delivery.
* representative associations such as independent practitioner associations of
doctors and other health professionals
* local environmental groups and support groups for chronic diseases, as well
as
* traditional health practitioners.

We also have formations that are constituted as per requirements of the
national health act, these being:
* Public Health Hospitals Boards
* Community Health Centre and Clinic Committees
* Mental Review Board
* National Health Research Ethics Council
* Forum of Statutory Health Professional Councils.

Working together, we will be able to appropriately respond to the January 8
statement where President Thabo Mbeki emphasises that, "The struggle to push
back the frontiers of poverty needs also to pay due attention to the health of
the nation, ensuring, in particular, that the poor are able to access quality
healthcare." We are saying with the strong council, advising me diligently, the
policies of our department would ensure that we are better equipped to provide
preventive, promotive, therapeutic, rehabilitative and palliative levels of
care for all the citizens of this beautiful Province. Respected members, this
is one of the biggest departments in the country, entrusted with the
responsibility of looking after the health status of more than 10 million
people. For us to work together I feel it is appropriate to state our
expectations, some being:
* loyalty from council members
* dedication to our vision and mission
* trustworthiness
* confidentiality on political issues
* focus on issues and consultation.

To improve the health status of all our people, let us work together to
ensure that our policies do positively impact on the following:
* reduction in patient waiting times, 50% at outpatient departments
* improvement in patient transport system
*improvement of physical appearance of facilities
* improvement in staff shortage
* improvement of community participation at institutions.

Remember as the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health we are committed to
fighting disease, fighting poverty and giving hope.

Issued by: Department of Health, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
3 April 2007
Source: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government (http://www.kznhealth.gov.za)