the sod turning ceremony for the Phillips Town Clinic
28 February 2006
Programme Director,
The Mayor of Renosterberg Municipality,
Councillors,
MEC Shiwe Selao,
Department of Health officials,
Distinguished guests, friends,
I am honoured today to come here and join you for the official sod turning
of the new Phillips Town Clinic. We have two initiatives of sod turnings in
this municipality today, it shows that as the African National Congress (ANC)
led government we have a purpose and we are on a mission.
The health vision of 2014 has accelerated delivery and is bound to improve
the lives of people and create jobs. We are in Renosterberg Municipality to
once more fulfil our commitment and promises to the people. The ANC government
is one that commits itself and delivers accordingly.
The construction of the new clinic on this site, I would say, will not just
be a delivery of mortar and bricks. The new clinic already spells out new
possibilities and opportunities for the communities of Phillips Town in
particular.
We insist that in the process of construction local people must receive
preference for employment. We also remain firmly bias in reducing the gender
discrepancy in employment, it is now accepted that if you want to create
sustainable families employ women.
I have also made the commitment in the state of the province address that we
will source all building materials that are available in the province locally,
this will be included the contract with the relevant contractor.
As people, we government delivery is presenting us with a medium and long
term challenge. We must also develop and educate ourselves so that we take
ownership of this facility including others and become the ones who will be
responsible for rendering both the professional and support services that this
facilities will have to provide.
To this effect we have been encouraging the youth in all local communities
to seize the opportunities provided by our democracy and government. I have
carried this message in all the areas that I have addressed recently.
There are many career opportunities in the health sciences and our province
still needs expertise in numerous other fields. As a government we are funding
various learners in these fields of scarce skills. We challenge you to pass
your matric well, preferably in higher grade and you will have an opportunity
to study further.
It is important that we have our local people who will forever remain
committed to work amongst our communities. Without the people capable of
delivering the quality care and services our people expect we will not be able
to get maximum value.
Importantly, the new clinic will provide state of the art medical technology
appropriate to the level of service required. Access times to the two
facilities we are building in this district will also be extended.
Our people shall according to vision 2014 be provided with 24 hour access to
primary health care. The two new clinics for which we are turning sods and the
new regional hospital in De Aar will improve our district health system.
As a government we remain committed to taking services and development to
our people. We further believe that the destiny of our people is in their own
hands. Hence the freedom charter states âthe people shall govern.â
As a people we also have a role to play to improve our health; if we live
safely and responsibly we will also alleviate the pressure on governmentâs
health resources so that it can invest such resources in the fight against
poverty. There is a challenge of the spread of sexually transmitted disease
(STDs). This does not bode well for our management of the spread of HIV and
AIDS. It also does not bode well for our families and economy because HIV and
AIDS are currently affecting particularly the youth.
Our youth are supposed to be the bread winners and entrepreneurs of our
society but increasingly our elders have to care for the young and their
orphans. We must just remember that there is no cure for HIV and AIDS.
The problems of HIV and AIDS can be resolved if we change our behaviours.
This problem can be resolved if we support and care about those who are
affected and infected so that they may also live positively.
HIV/AIDS is a social problem that can be managed and at least arrested if we
all support our government and the partnership to end this scourge.
We want to send out a strong message about sexually transmitted infections
(STIs) as we conclude this month of reproductive health. We must take good care
about our health. Teenage pregnancies and STIs are a major concern in our
communities, it means that people are not abstaining or at least
condomising.
As government we continue to say you must abstain, you must have one partner
and you must use a condom with that one partner when you decide to have sex.
All the older men who abuse teenage girls must face the consequences of their
actions, this is statutory rape. People in our communities should report these
cases to the police. We said we are now declaring 365 days of no violence
against women and children abuse.
Programme Director
We must also urge our people to take their own health very serious. We still
have instances of pregnant women who present themselves very late in their
pregnancies to our clinics. These kinds of problems require our collective
effort as a community.
There is also the foetal alcohol syndrome which causes physical and mental
deformities in children whose parents drink during pregnancy. This is
particularly common in this district and in Siyanda.
Many of our people continue to die of Tuberculosis (TB) despite the fact
that it can be cured. This is because people do not take their medicines when
they are supposed to. Again I believe that issues such as this can be overcome
if we act together as communities.
The new clinic will help us when we are sick but we as individuals and
community can prevent sickness from affecting us. We can also ensure that when
we are sick we get cured. In short we must live healthy lifestyles.
Last year on 16 June we also launched the healthy lifestyles campaign here
in the province; it encourages us to engage in any physical activity at least
30 minutes every day. This will keep us healthier and off hospital beds.
As we build these facilities we leave them in your hands as the people who
must now govern them. You are the people who must pass them over to future
generations who must not bedevilled by problems that we would have
resolved.
Once more I urge you to ensure that during the building phase of this
facility nothing gets stolen, not a single brick. This facility like many
others must be the legacy that your generation, our people, leave for future
generations to admire your contribution to development.
We will now invite you to witness the sod turning for the new clinic for the
people of Phillips Town.
I thank you.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Northern Cape Provincial Government
28 February 2006
