The MEC for Health in KwaZulu-Natal Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo will officially open a brand new KwaMashu Community Healthcare Centre (CHC) and hand over a site for commencement of construction of the Dr Pixley kaSeme Hospital, in Inanda, as part of a list of projects in preparation for the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI).
Journalists are invited to the events that will take place on 24 November 2011 from 10h00 at KwaMashu’s Princess Magogo Stadium.
The events will be preceded by a press tour of the CHC and a visit to the construction site between 8h30 to 9h30. Journalists are urged to RSVP in order to make the necessary transport and other arrangements through: sifiso.xulu@kznhealth.gov.za or 033 395 2547 and/or chris.maxon@kznhealth.gov.za (083 447 2869)
The PINK areas (Phoenix, Inanda Ntuzuma & KwaMashu), including Newlands, are located about 20km north of Durban. The township of KwaMashu was established by the City of Durban between 1957 and 1968 to accommodate displaced African residents who were being relocated from Cato Manor (Umkhumbane).
The area consists of 15 wards, with a large number of informal settlements. Although only Inanda and KwaMashu were declared as presidential urban nodes, one sees these two settlements as functional units with the adjoining Ntuzuma, Newlands and Phoenix settlements.
Since their establishment, poverty levels have become quite high in the PINK areas. There are a number of interrelated factors which are understood as causing such poverty, including high rates of unemployment. Furthermore, the health outcomes in the area especially with regards to; maternal and infant morbidity and mortality, HIV, TB and AIDS as well as chronic diseases, are very poor.
While the areas are serviced by a number of clinics and two Community Healthcare Centres (namely; ‘Poly clinic’ and Inanda Newtown C), the fast growing population has increased the burden on the delivery of healthcare services in the areas.
Over the years, the more than 1,5 million populations have been serviced by a single District Hospital, Mahatma Gandhi memorial Hospital in Phoenix.
With the National Health Insurance implementation in the cards the department is fast tracking the improvement of healthcare services, including the revitalisation and building of new infrastructure. In thus year the MEC has officially opened close to twenty nine clinics throughout the province and one Community Healthcare Centre (St Chad’s). The KwaMashu CHC will be the second to be officially opened, at the cost of around 160 million rand (R160 million).
“The construction of the CHC has impacted positively to the livelihood of the people residing in the area by creating many employment opportunities," says MEC Dhlomo ahead of the official opening. “People have also gained experience of working in such environments which will be very useful if or when more opportunities of the nature comes their way. Approximately 1200 people were employed in this Project of which 75% were from the local community.”
“All services will start to relocate from the old site to the new building from next week, 18 November, with the exception of a few. We will continue to offer some services; such as Medical Male Circumcision, Psychiatric services, HAST – HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections, TB and anti-retroviral therapy – services and the crisis centre for victims of rape and abuse.”
The facility will have dedicated ambulances (obstetric ambulances) to provide services for expecting mothers in order to improve maternal outcomes. It is hoped that the two facilities would help improve the overall healthcare delivery in the area and impact on the health outcomes of the province. The public will be advised to start reporting at the new site from the 19 November 2011 through various media platforms.
Enquiries:
Chris Maxon
Cell: 083 447 2869
Province
