The North West Department of Health is geared to establish Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) Tuberculosis units in all four districts of the province in the current financial year to improve the management of TB patients, through the use of global funds. The province will also improve accessibility of Antiretroviral (ARV) treatment through expansion of ARV services to all health facilities in the province, said MEC Dr Magome Masike.
Tabling his budget vote at the Provincial Legislature, MEC Masike said the Department will also increase the frequency of mobile clinic visits to farming communities.
“Efforts to reduce maternal and child death is still a high priority in 2012 and beyond. We are concerned that we still have a significant proportion of women (about 16%), who currently deliver babies outside health facilities. We will intensify efforts to improve delivery within health care facilities so that mothers can have access to professional health care during delivery. We have prioritised procurement of obstetric ambulances which will be used to transport pregnant women who are in labour to facilities with maternity services. They will be equipped with all the necessary equipment to provide quality treatment and care to both mother and child. In addition we have plans to establish maternity waiting homes in each sub district. As we advocate for exclusive breast feeding, we plan to establish three (3) human milk banks and we urge women to be ready to donate” Masike said.
The Department will continue to further strengthen kangaroo mother care in all hospitals and accelerate accreditation of Community Health Centers for Mother Baby Friendly Initiative, he said.
“We will continue to expand Choices on Termination of Pregnancy (CTOP) services to our facilities across the province. Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) remains a key strategy for managing our children and we will now put more emphasis on monitoring implementation. We intend to roll out child problem identification programme to all hospitals where children are managed” Masike said.
Enquiries:
Tebogo Lekgethwane
Cell: 082 929 9958
E-mail: Tlekgethwane@nwpg.gov.za
North West to establish MDR TB Units in all four Districts
Province
