John Deo Clinic
7 April 2009
Your Worship, Mayor of Emfuleni, Councillor Assistance Mushudulu
Member of Mayoral Committee for Health in Sedibeng, Councillor Maipato
Tsokodibane
Ward councillor
Councillors present
Members of the clinic committee
Senior Managers from Gauteng Department of Health
Managers from Sedibeng and Emfuleni Municipalities
Distinguished guests
A number of African National Congress (ANC) conferences took resolutions to
extend access to primary health care.
These resolutions were taken in the light of the fact that the ANC
government acknowledged the need to extend access to primary health care
services closer to where people live.
Program director
The ANC led government in Gauteng has been very consistent in provision
integrated development to our communities. When this area was formalised, and
housing delivered the ANC government took a conscious decision to provide a
basket of other public services that include health in the form a clinic, and
education in the form of schools. In other words, development that is provided
to our communities is deliberate, planned and integrated.
Most of you will remember that a need for a clinic in this area was
identified as far back as 2001. People living in areas such as Sebokeng Zone
20, Cyferpan; Westside Park, Radipeu, and Johan Deo received health services
that were rendered from a mobile clinic, which visited the area on certain days
of the week.
Subsequently services were rendered from a community hall, but health
professionals and members of the community alerted us as the ANC government
that a community hall was an inappropriate site to deliver Health services. In
2004, we then announced that we would build 10 new clinics across Gauteng, and
this also included a clinic in this area.
Program director
The ANC led government has delivered on this commitment. All of those ten
clinics are now rendering health services within a walking distance to our
people. Also allow me to point out that since we took power in 1994, we as the
ANC led government have built a total of 52 clinics across Gauteng. We have
renovated a dozen more clinics.
Since 2004, 50 clinics have extended their hours of service, 46 of these now
render services on Saturdays, and seven of these also operate for 24 hours per
day. 13 more clinics will extend their hours of service by July 2009. Here in
Emfuleni we have extended hours of service at some of our clinics. Clinics such
as Empilisweni, Market Avenue, and Kopanong Gateway are now rendering operating
on Saturdays, where as Levai Mbatha and Johan Heyns Community Health Centres
operate for 24 hours.
Program director
I therefore take this opportunity to plead with our community of to access
health facilities appropriately. Going to hospital when your illness can be
treated at a clinic increases waiting times and long queues. Minor ailments and
chronic conditions are treated at clinics.
The nurses that work at these clinics are highly trained; they can diagnose and
treat most conditions. Most of our also clinics have medical doctors. I also
plead with local councillors and community leaders to continue educating
members of the community to enter the health system appropriately. It is more
expensive for the state to extract a tooth at a hospital, than at a clinic.
Moreover, services at clinics are rendered free of charge.
Program director
I am cognisant of the fact that services at clinics have to inspire
confidence before communities stop accessing the health system incorrectly. It
is therefore a challenge to district managers to ensure that services at
clinics inspire confidence.
Program director
We spent approximately R7 million rand to build this clinic, this figure
excludes equipment. The ANC has prioritised the health of our people. If our
people are not healthy, they cannot be productive. Therefore as communities and
as individuals we have a responsibility for our own health. I am saying this
because I am mindful of the increasing number of people who have come to this
clinic and have been diagnosed with preventable diseases. Therefore I plead
with you to work with our health professionals, health promoters and Community
Health Workers when they educate you on how to prevent illnesses and improve
your health status.
Program director
This clinic renders a wide range of primary health care services which
include:
* services for pregnant women and those who have just given birth
* family planning
* diagnosis and treatment of TB
* immunisation of children
* prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV
* voluntary counselling and testing for HIV
* treatment of sexually transmitted illnesses
* diagnosis and management of chronic conditions such as hypertension, asthma,
sugar diabetes and epilepsy.
Program director
I have been reliably informed that the following services will be rendered
at this clinic by the end of June 2009:
* Comprehensive Care, management and treatment of HIV this will include
availability of anti-retroviral treatment at this clinic
* Integration of mental health services
* Patients who receive on anti-retroviral treatment at Sebokeng Hospital and
Levai Mbatha Community Health Centre while accessing other health services
here, will by June 2009, receive their HIV treatment at this clinic.
Program director
The ANC government will continue making a difference to peopleâs lives. This
will even be more possible when we work together. I am not being modest when I
conclude by saying, âAfter having swept the elections on 22 April 2009, we will
continue to work with our communities to improve their livesâ!
Issued by: Department of Health, Gauteng Provincial Government
7 April 2009
