Botshabelo Community Health Centre Maternity Wing officially opened
The Public, Private Partnership between Anglo-Gold Ashanti and the North-West Department of health has yielded fruits. Through the partnership, a new maternity wing was built at Botshabelo Community Health Centre (CHC) and officially opened on 02 October 2017 at Khuma township in Stilfontein. The maternity wing was built with a R6 million donation from Anglo Gold Ashanti.
A total of 422 healthy babies were born at the new facility since it was handed over to the Department of Health in May 2016 by contractors. Giving a keynote address at the official opening of the maternity wing, North-West MEC for Health, Dr. Magome Masike said there’s so much that all of us can achieve together.
“Our aim is to deliver quality health services to our people, and this we can achieve only if we all put our hands on deck”, Masike said.
MEC Masike expressed his gratitude for the private sector’s involvement in community development.
“We as government, must create a conducive environment for our mines and other private sector companies to thrive. Because when mineworkers lose their jobs, we also lose on tax revenue and this will obviously have a direct negative impact on our economy”, He said.
Masike once more, emphasized that “health is not a departmental issue but a societal issue” where everyone (NGOs, FBOs, Civil Society, Public and Private sectors) must play a role in making it a success.
Giving a message of support, Mr. Matome Thoka from the Department of Mineral Resources said Anglo Gold Ashanti is not going to be in operation forever and for that it should add value by ploughing back into communities as part of its social responsibility.
“We know that our mineral resources will be depleted at some stage. You can’t be a parent and fail to build a house for your kids. This is a project that requires the community to appreciate and acknowledge the role played by Anglo Gold Ashanti” He said.
Speaking on behalf of Anglo Gold Ashanti, Senior Vice President of Sustainability, Mr. Mighty Moloko said the genesis of this project arises from section 9 of the South African constitution.
“This section ensures that we redress the imbalances of the past. Health has been identified as a priority which is why we came to a conclusion that we put a lot of money into this project. Through the PPP, we signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to ensure that the property is built and equipment is bought. We promised to deliver within a year and we have honoured our promise. We are proud to have worked with all of you in this very important project”, He concluded.
The project entails a new 730 square metre maternity wing with ante-and-post natal rooms, sonar, dispensary, nursery and sterilization room as well as a staff room with a separate lounge. The medical equipment purchased by the department of health amounted to R736 000.
The maternity wing will enable pregnant women of Khuma and neighbouring communities to access maternity medical assistance closer to their homes, decreasing potential risks to unborn infants. The newly built facility will contribute towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortality.
Enquiries:
Tebogo Lekgethwane
Provincial Health spokesperson
Cell: 082 929 9958
E-mail: tlekgethwane@nwpg.gov.za