S Belot: Departmental Women's Forum during Women's Month

11 August 2006

Programme Director

The 5th and 6th of August ushered in the progressive Women’s Month. On
Wednesday, women all over the country converged in Tshwane to celebrate the
50th anniversary of the women’s march to the Union Buildings. This morning we
are gathered here to start another journey.

Programme Director, afford me the opportunity first of all to pay tribute to
all the women in health. These are the women who on a daily basis serve our
communities, our clinics, our hospitals, and our emergency medical services to
ensure that all of our clients in the Free State have access to affordable,
quality health services.

Over the past twelve years, the integration of the fragmented health
facilities and administrations presented an immense challenge. With such
integration came the need to improve access to health services for the majority
of people whose needs were not catered for during the apartheid era. Other
challenges included ensuring that resources were allocated equitably. Included
in that was shift in resources to primary healthcare as well as the management
of expenditure to ensure that the health budget was effectively utilised.

Women have made a major contribution in the success we have achieved over
the last few years towards creating a caring and humane society in which all of
us can have access to affordable, good quality healthcare.

Together we have taken major strides in implementing health programmes in
our communities where an overwhelming majority has access to proper sanitation,
housing, clean water and other basic services. Learners are now ensured a meal
during their school day and women are being empowered to take care of their
reproductive health and of their health during pregnancy.

Ladies, the implementation of the Patient’s Rights Charter is increasingly
creating an environment where our health workers understand and respect the
rights of patients and patients take responsibility for their health and
respect the rights of healthcare providers. We are fortunate that we also have
legislation such as the Choice of Termination of Pregnancy Act, Domestic
Violence Act, Maintenance Act and Customary Marriages Act, which have improved
the status and protected the interest of many women in our province. The fact
that we have established such institutions as the Commission on Gender Equality
and the Office of the Status of Women ensure that we do not lose momentum in
our journey towards gender equality.

This month, the country has dedicated resources and opportunities to reflect
on the progress made towards the advancement of the status of women. We are
celebrating your achievements and also focussing attention on what still needs
to be done to reach a point where both women and men enjoy equal recognition
and respect of their rights, abilities, interests, and needs. I have requested
an opportunity to address the women in management positions in the department
for the sole purpose of putting the concept of a women’s management forum in
your midst. The purpose of this forum then would be to create a platform to
discuss and concretise projects where issues of women empowerment and gender
equality can be addressed. It is now your time, use the opportunities created
by enabling environments and join the journey to gender equality together with
your male colleagues. Issues that the forum can address are recruitment and
retention, gender equity targets in management amongst others.

Ladies, in conclusion, it is therefore important that women take the lead in
ensuring their participation in planning and decision-making processes
especially in improving accessibility and quality of healthcare services. Women
are best placed to guide the design and implementation of gender sensitive
health programmes that address the needs of women, children, elderly, and other
groups with special needs.

I would like to again express my appreciation and thanks to all women who
work in the health services in the Free State. Without you, we would not be
able to reach the high level of success. Continue to work hard and ensure that
we reach our vision of a healthy and self-reliant Free State community.

I thank you.

Issued by: Free State Provincial Government
11 August 2006