S Sekoati: Handover of clinics and equipment by the government of Japan
to the Limpopo Provincial Government

15 March 2007

The Minister of the Embassy of Japan, Mr Shinichi Ito
The Executive Mayor of Mopani District Municipality, Councillor Humphrey
Mokgobi
The Mayor of the Greater Tzaneen Municipality, Councillor O J Mushwana
Kgosigadi Maake
Councillors from the local municipalities
Ladies and gentlemen
Programme Director

It is an honour to be part of this memorable occasion of the official
handover of clinics and equipment by the Japanese government. Our Honourable
Minister of Health, Dr Tshabalala-Msimang, would have loved to be with us but
we all know that she is recovering in hospital. The people of Limpopo wish her
a speedy recovery.

The government of Japan committed to aid the government of Limpopo province
for improvement of health facilities in 2004. Three provinces, KwaZulu-Natal,
Eastern Cape and Limpopo, were identified for support. KwaZulu-Natal and
Eastern Cape received mobile clinics and visiting points were built.

In 2005, the project started in Limpopo for improvement of three clinics in
Letsitele, Mohlaba and Maake villages, building of four visiting points in
Kubjana, Burgerdorp, Mokgolobotho and Pharare villages, five mobile clinics and
medical equipment for the Letaba and Velvelegen hospitals, 24 clinics and fiur
health centres. We appreciate this support by Japanese people and it should be
acknowledged that this was in partnership with the people of South Africa.

We also appreciate the work done by the Japanese International Co-operation
Agency for supporting this project through maintenance and management of
medical equipment. We further appreciate the fact that there is a pilot project
to decentralise maintenance and support systems which is in the pipeline.

We are aware that aid for South Africans will be reduced to technical
assistance because South Africa is classified as a middle-income country and
can no longer receive grants. Our province still need more support from the
Japanese government, especially on skills development and training.

We would like to urge the Japanese government not to forget Limpopo province
when entering into agreements with neighbouring countries that we share borders
with such as Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana, because whatever projects you
do with those countries will have an impact on Limpopo.

Allow me to use this opportunity to call upon our people in these areas
where the facilities are situated to take advantage of them to be empowered
with information and education programmes around issues of healthy lifestyle,
teenage pregnancy, sexual behaviour, Sexually Transmitted Infections, HIV and
AIDS, etc.

There will be security to protect these buildings but we believe that you as
the community are the only guaranteed security for these facilities for them
not to be vandalised. Threat these facilities as your own property and the
people working here as your own family.

These clinics and visiting points are yours, not for the Department of
Health. The department is just there to manage the facilities on your
behalf.

Forward with the promotion of a healthy lifestyle in Limpopo.

Issued by: Department of Health, Limpopo Provincial Government
15 March 2007
Source: Limpopo Provincial Government (http://www.limpopo.gov.za/)