21 September 2006
For the past 12 years health services for the residents of Brown's Farm,
Phillippi, have been rendered under difficult circumstances from 12 shipping
containers. Now this regrettable situation that has deprived these residents of
decent health facilities is over as the Western Cape government opens a new
Community Health Centre.
Speaking at the official opening of the R5,6 million state of the art
facility, Western Cape Health MEC Pierre Uys said, "The wait for the new
Community Health Centre in Phillippi is now over."
"Patients will now receive quality healthcare at a modern facility closest
to them," Minister Uys added.
The new CHC currently serves a population of approximately 80 000 people and
is treating approximately 35 000 patients per year. Staff complement include a
facility manager who has been working in the clinic since its inception, a
doctor, a full time pharmacist, five professional nurses, two nursing
assistants, two administrative clerks, two general assistants and one lay
councillor.
The new facility will have six consulting rooms, a dressing room, an
emergency room, a seminar room for training purposes and a tuberculosis (TB)
sputum room.
Some of the quality healthcare services that will now be rendered at the
facility include emergency care, TB detection, voluntary counselling and
testing (VCT), nutrition programmes and support groups for chronic care such as
diabetes, hypertension and asthma.
Public Works Minister Marius Fransman said his Department has once again
demonstrated its commitment to deliver quality facilities to the previously
disadvantaged communities for them to enjoy the fruits of democracy of South
Africa, and make the Western Cape a home that equally cares for all its
citizens.
"My Department has accelerated the delivery of social infrastructure in
order to respond to both the client departments and communities' demands. We
have built and maintained more schools and health facilities than ever in the
history of this province and we plan to maintain this momentum. We have also
ensured that through these constructions, we create work opportunities. The
construction of this CHC in Brown's Farm has created 422 work opportunities,
with 38 people employed per month."
"Last year we delivered 22 state of the art schools in most disadvantaged
communities. Most of these schools that were a response to the call by
President Thabo Mbeki for us to build schools so that no child studies under a
tree, were built in record periods of six months."
"We are now busy with six schools in Khayelitsha with a total value of more
than R100 million and two 240 beds hospitals in Khayelitsha and Mitchell's
Plain. Each hospital will be worth approximately R300 million."
"Together with the departments of health and education we have identified 77
major projects with a combined investment of R19,9 billion that could be
implemented and completed by 2014. These projects include:
* 60 new schools
* 12 new and upgraded hospitals
* four regional offices and one head office block for government
departments.
"These projects will stimulate economic activity in the built environment,
contribute to the six percent growth rate required in terms of the Accelerated
and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA), create jobs and skills
development."
Contact:
Faiza Steyn
Director: Communication
Tel: (021) 483 3235
Herman van der Weisthuizen
Media Liaison Officer to the Minister of Health
Tel: (021) 483 2627
Eric Ntabazalila
Cell: 083 647 6311
Issued by: Department of Health, Western Cape Provincial Government
21 September 2006
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government (http://www.capegateway.gov.za)
