Measures initiated by the Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development during the public sector strike helped to minimise the impact of the industrial action on the hospital and clinic services.
According to the department’s quarterly report submitted to the legislature this week, a total of 1.9 million patients visits were recorded in hospital outpatient departments and 8.1 million visit in clinics between July and September this year. While the figures indicated in decrease in the number of visits during this period, they confirm that the strike failed to totally close down hospitals and clinics in the province. Hospitals and clinics continued to render services and save lives.
The mobilisation of volunteers and the fact that doctors did not join the strike assisted in ensuring continued services to the public. All municipal owned clinics remained opened during the industrial action and this contributed to the minimal disruption in services.
During this period the number of patients on anti-retroviral therapy increased by more than 20 000 to 330 692 from the previous figure of 306 724 in the preceding quarter. The number of people reached through the HIV and AIDS counseling and testing campaign increased to more than 900 000.
Immunisation of children against vaccine preventable disease remained high in the province with 119% of children vaccinated against pneumonia, 114% against rota virus and 111% against measles.
While the vacancy rate of doctors, nurses and pharmacists remains a challenge, the Department’s 34 out of 35 community health centres in the province have resident doctors and 248 fixed clinics are visited by a doctors at least once a week. More than 400 people were registered for training as enrolled nurses in this period.
This means that the new MEC Ntombi Mekgwe is inheriting a functional department with dedicated employees who are prepared to go the extra mile to achieve the goal of a long and health life for all South African.
Enquiries:
Simon Zwane
Cell: 082 551 9892
