More than three million people have shown confidence in Gauteng’s Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities in the last quarter of the current financial year.
In the first quarter (April, May, June 2011), 3 598 447 patients under the age of five were treated at PHC’s and the number increased in the second quarter (July, August, September 2011) to 3 817 948.
The number of visits also increased from 689 606 in the first quarter for patients older than five years to 712 167 in the second quarter.
The department aims for an increase before the end of this financial year to five million for patients under the age of five and one million to those over the age of five.
Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development MEC Ntombi Mekgwe says, “We are happy that people are now responding to our call of seeking medical assistance at clinics and only go to hospital on referral. We however urged more people to use the appropriate levels of care to avoid inconveniences such as long queues.”
The department is however experiencing challenges with antenatal visits before 20 weeks gestation. Performance was slightly lower (33%) in the second quarter compared to 36% in first quarter. This may be due to women still believing that antenatal attendance is only necessary when the stomach is showing.
“We are making a call for more pregnant mothers to come in first 20 weeks as that will assist them to identify pregnancy related complications and ensure that they give birth to healthy children,” says MEC.
To ensure a decrease in maternal and neonatal deaths, the department is continuing with social mobilisation which includes door-to-door campaigns targeting the underperforming districts.
Enquiries:
Simon Zwane
Cell: 082 551 9892
