KwaZulu-Natal was allocated two Districts as National Health Insurance (NHI) Pilot sites, that is, UMgungundlovu and Umzinyathi but then requested to add a third one which is Amajuba District and committed to pay for its Pilot exercise.
Amajuba was chosen by the Provincial leadership because of its peculiarity in that it is both rural and urban; has adequate health care facilities and will yield immediate results in terms of readiness for the actual implementation of the NHI. Dhlomo says they have taken stock of what has been accomplished so far and decided on what should be tackled going forward. Each Pilot site has been assessed.
Amajuba District Pilot
Capacity Building entailing change management training has been given to 53 Managers and all Operational managers in the Primary Health Care institutions have been trained on data collection and reporting tools.
The District has also commenced with Mobile Pharmacy Services where more than 1200 clients now collect their medicine in the Sukuma Sakhe War Rooms. School Health Teams, 12 in all have been appointed and are already servicing 4 232 Grade one learners at 98 schools.
The District has also appointed Clinical Specialist Team that consist of one Advanced Midwife and a Primary Health Care Nurse. To improve the quality of care; procurement of essential equipment for both clinics and hospital is now in the tender stage and the replenishment of linen in hospitals underway.
Umzinyathi District Pilot
All CEO’s and District Management have been given a training course on Leadership and Advanced Management Programme. All CEO posts in the Hospitals have also been filled with the exception of Church of Scotland Hospital [COSH] where the post has been advertised.
Remarkable progress on Infrastructure has also been made particularly at Charles James Memorial Hospital where construction of a Nursing College is now complete and a new kitchen and laundry also nearing completion.
We also have a new Paediatric and TB wards for COSH under construction, a new Pharmacy at Greytown Hospital at 68% completion stage, a Pomeroy Community Health Centre being built, Manxili TB Voluntary and Counselling Unit and Elandskraal Clinic complete as well as Thathezakhe and Zamimpilo Clinics about to be completed.
District Clinical Specialist Teams entailing Clinical Manager Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Advanced Midwife and Advanced Primary Health Care Nurse have been appointed. The District has also established a Forum between Public Medical Staff and Private General Practioners and conducted training sessions for the latter entailing TB management, Hypertension and Diabetes. These GP’s will be contracted in Primary Care Clinics closer to where the patients live.
UMgungundlovu District Pilot
Family Health Teams, 14 in all are already place in Impendle, Richmond, UMshwathi, UMkhambathini, Umngeni, Mpofana and Msunduzi. Three Mobile schools vehicles have been purchased, i.e. Dental Vehicle, Eye Care Vehicle as well as a General vehicle to be utilised by the 20 School Health Teams appointed to cover all municipalities serving the Quinton one and two schools.
Emphasis here is on screening that involves Oral, Vision, Hearing, Nutrition status, Impairments, fine and gross motor development, communicable diseases as well as psycho- social issues. On infrastructure development in this District, three new clinics are ready to be commissioned starting with Ezimwini at UMkhambathini on August 16 as well as Mambedwini at UMshwathi and Mahlutshini at Impendle later in the year.
Pharmacy Assistants have also been appointed for Clinics at Taylors Halt, Caluza, Mpumuza, Mpophomeni, Northdale and Central City. These Assistants will be responsible for Drug Stock and Chronic scripts management.
Previously Municipal run clinics at East Boom, Bruntville, Richmond and Imbalenhle have been given basic equipment and have been prepared to provide maternity services. Sessional Doctors have also been appointed to offer medical care at Primary Health Care facilities.
“For all these Districts, our focus now going forward is on strengthening Supply Chain Management, Referrals and Planning as well as Monitoring and Evaluation mechanisms, but we are on course,” says Dhlomo.
Enquiries:
Desmond Motha
Cell: 083 295 3901
E-mail: desmond.motha@kznhealth.gov.za
