KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo launches health promoting taxi ranks
The MEC for Health, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo will launch a new health promoting initiative in the province. This project will see health promotion taken to taxi ranks throughout KwaZulu-Natal, with the aim of providing access to health care in public places such as taxi ranks. The launch takes place in the eThekwini Municipality with a pilot project commencing at the identified taxi ranks.
Taxi ranks are viewed as commercial and social centres, which provide an opportunity for the department to expand its healthcare services to people in the taxi industry as well as others who may not be using or accessing health services due to the nature of their jobs and the time spend on the roads.
Taxi-owners, taxi-drivers, taxi-conductors and vendors normally start their day very early in the morning and until very late in the evening. It is therefore not uncommon that they do not find time to visit public healthcare facilities to access health services.
They may sometimes postpone their visits to public healthcare facilities thus depriving themselves of much needed health care, treatment and support, leading to the deterioration of their health thereby negatively impacting on their overall wellbeing.
As part of the department’s commitment to service deliver and access to quality care for all the citizens in the province, this intervention to ensure that taxi communities have access to public healthcare services will be realised when, MEC Dhlomo launches a mobile clinic at Hill Street Taxi Rank in Pinetown. This mobile clinic will provide a comprehensive package of primary healthcare services in order to promote a preventative approach to health.
Accompanying MEC Dhlomo in this exciting venture will be the Mayor of eThekwini Municipality, Cllr James Nxumalo, eThekwini Metro Management Taxi Council, South African National Taxi Council and the Department of Transport.
MEC Dhlomo will brief the media about this pilot project and how the project will be rolled out throughout the Province of KwaZulu-Natal.
The media briefing will take place as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 18 February 2014
Time: 11h30 for 12h00
Venue: Pinetown Civic Centre, Ethekwini Municipality
From the media briefing, MEC Dhlomo will proceed to Hill Street Taxi Rank in Pinetown to unveil the mobile clinic that will service the taxi communities in this area and thereafter proceed to the formal event at Beier Taxi Holding Zone in Richmond Road.
All media is invited to all of the above activities.
Contact:
Sebe Zwane
Cell: 071 475 0662
Email: sebe.zwane@kznhealth.gov.za
