North West Health Department in conjunction with the North West University (Mafikeng Campus) will convene a two day Provincial Health Consultative Forum to be attended by health stakeholders in the province. The aim of the forum is to involve both internal and external stakeholders to participate and advise the department on its policies and programmes targeted at improving the provision of health care services.
Among issues to be looked at the forum include improving health status of communities through implementation of integrated health programme and promotion of healthy living, management of district health system, providing accessible, equitable and affordable comprehensive primary health care service and impact of municipal services to quality health care.
Stakeholders include academics, traditional leaders, traditional health practitioners, Health Portfolio Committee, municipalities, non-governmental organisations, unions, Provincial Council on AIDS, private sector institutions and senior managers in the department.
These stakeholders will form part of multi-sectoral approach to advance and monitor delivery of health care services to the people through the establishment of a provincial health consultative forum according to section 28 of the National Health Act of 2003.The Act requires Member of the Executive Council to establish a consultative body functioning within the jurisdiction of the province.
The forum will promote, facilitate interaction, communication and sharing of information on provincial health issues between representatives of the provincial department and municipal organisations identified by the member of the executive council. This forum is required by law to meet once every 12 months to review the policies and project targeted at imparting services to the people.
The Department of Health is taking the role of governance structures seriously such that North West University has been brought on board as partners to assist with developing a booklet of governance and governance structures within local government and public sector environment. The university will also facilitate workshops to train members of governance structures on the challenges and the role that they should play in improving health service delivery particularly at primary health care level.
MEC for Health, Dr Magome Masike will give a keynote address focused on re-engineering primary health care and the service transformation plan which will give members of the governance structures a 20 year vision of health care outlook in the country and the province.
The two day forum will take place on 14 to 15 June 2011 at the Alpha Conference Centre, Broederstroom near Haartebeespoort. It is scheduled to start at 8am.
The media is invited.
Enquiries:
Tebogo Lekgethwane
Cell: 082 929 9958
E-mail: tlekgethwane@nwpg.gov.za
