“It is with honour that today we open a health centre comprising of a maternal and child services unit as well as a primary healthcare clinic in a complex named after a remarkable Queen of the Royal household; the late Queen Nolonolo, who at a time when it was uncommon to have African professional nurses and midwives,” said MEC Dhlomo at the opening of the Queen Nolonolo clinics in Nongoma.
Queen Nolonolo trained at Benedictine Hospital for Midwifery in 1958 coming from the Free State. After qualifying as a midwife and worked at the hospital. It was during this time that she became one of His Majesty King Cyprian Bhekuzulu Nyangayezizwe kaSolomon’s.In the mid-1960, Queen Nolonolo moved to Hlabisa Hospital where she worked until 1968. She returned to Benedictine Hospital in 1980 after the passing away of His Majesty King Cyprian Bhekuzulu. In May 1982 Queen Nolonolo was involved in a fatal car accident outside Benedictine Hospital and was laid to rest on 4 June of the same year, co-incidentally the day on which she was born.
The event was graced with the presence of the Premier, Dr Zweli Mkhize, Dr Meshack Hadebe of the Social Development Department and His Majesty King Zwelithini Zulu. The Premier is also the Champion of the government’s Masisukume Sakhe programme which seeks to use holistic approach to address social challenges in KwaZulu-Natal. Dr Hadebe came to announce the building of a One Stop Service Centre in the Usuthu area and announce the commencement of construction.
70% of the population of Nongoma is below the age of 30 years and more than 50% of these are females. Through the Masisukume Sakhe Programme of government the area of Nongoma has three key challenges that are substance abuse, teenage pregnancy and unemployment. The services of the clinic will focus on teenage pregnancy through the provision of much needed services for women including family planning and reproductive health services and health education.
“The relationship between poverty and poor reproductive health is well established. Unwanted pregnancy was positively correlated with health risks of unsafe abortion. Poor access to contraception can be considered as a direct result of poverty. A primary concern of public health programmes is the existence of disparities in access to and utilization of health services and information,” said Dr Dhlomo.
Having examined the disparities in health outcomes and the social challenges in the area, public health programmes will organize services to reach the most disadvantaged, advocate for social development to have a positive impact on health, and play a key role in promoting long and healthy life for the people of Nongoma.
“Finally, there is a requirement to ensure that Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) is an important and integral part of the health system. By integrating SRH services into health systems, rather than running vertical programmes independently of the main health effort. The integration of services has begun, although there is still a great distance to go before full integration is achieved,” concluded MEC Dhlomo.
For pictures contact:
Themba Mngomezulu
Cell: 72 517 5417
