5 October 2006
Dr Joey Cupido has been appointed as Deputy Director-General (DDG) of
district health services and health programmes from 1 November 2006. He has
acted in this position since 13 January 2006.
He has been involved in achieving various key milestones for primary health
care services including the phasing out of the then district surgeon services,
which were seen as discriminatory at the time. Furthermore, Dr Cupido has
played a key role in the development and introduction of home based care
programmes and the implementation and institutionalisation of community home
based care in the Western Cape.
Dr Cupido has been involved in a number of key initiatives in the Department
of Health including:
* The preparation of 'input and position papers' that influenced the
assumption of responsibility for personal primary health care services in the
non-metro areas, a decision endorsed by the National Health Council earlier
this year.
* Influencing the national guidelines for the drafting of district health plans
and the broader planning processes at a national/ provincial level.
* Participating actively in the drafting of the departmental strategic position
statement (SPS), Healthcare 2010, and the comprehensive service plan (CSP). He
is a medical doctor by profession and has been in the public service since
1996. He also holds an MB, ChB and a Diploma in Health Management.
"Dr Cupido brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this key position.
I welcome his appointment as Deputy Director-General district health services
and health programmes and look forward to working with him to improve the
quality of healthcare delivered to our communities', says Professor Keith Craig
Househam, Head of the Department of Health.
Pierre Uys, the Minister of Health in the Western Cape says, "I would like
to congratulate Dr Cupido on this key and strategic appointment and wish him
everything of the best in his new challenges. I have every confidence that Dr
Cupido will provide leadership to key areas such as the development of district
health services and key programs such as HIV and AIDS and Tuberculosis."
Enquiries:
Faiza Steyn
Director: Communication
Tel: (021) 483 3235
Herman van der Westhuizen
Media Liaison Officer
Tel: (021) 483 2627
Issued by: Department of Health, Western Cape Provincial Government
5 October 2006
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government (http://www.capegateway.gov.za)
