6 June 2007
The Eastern Cape Department of Health has set aside R45 million bursaries to
educate disadvantaged youth in the province.
The MEC for Eastern Cape Health Department, Mrs Nomsa Jajula said this when
she was delivering her address at the Social Service Imbizo held at Intsika
Yethu and Sakhisizwe districts from 28 to 31 May 2007.
She also encouraged the schoolchildren to choose their subjects carefully
saying that science subjects are essential and mentioned that the youth should
search for their talents.
"You can go to school but you must know and develop your talent," she
said.
As part of the department's campaign to provide social services to the
disadvantaged communities in the area, 11 doctors were dispatched to clinics at
Sakhisizwe and Intsika Yethu District municipalities to see patients in
villages. Others as far away as 60 kilometres on gravel road.
Nurses conducted door-to-door campaigns, visited schools and initiation
schools to see if everything was going well.
During these visits, health education was given and the people seemed to
know a lot about health topics like HIV and AIDS, chronic conditions, and the
importance of child immunisation and breastfeeding.
The challenge in these areas was unemployment and most of the people there
solely depended on child support grants.
One of the schools visited was Bathandwa Ndondo Senior Secondary School at
Cala, where learners were educated about among others sexually transmitted
infections, HIV and AIDS, circumcision and many other health issues affecting
young people in the province.
The most important fact about the visits is that the learners showed
interest and knowledge in these issues. The students mentioned teenage
pregnancy as one of theirs school's challenge, one of the students commented
that the students seem to be proud about being pregnant.
Eleven clinics at a cost of R88 million were also opened by government in an
occasion held at Ncora Village in Cofimvaba an area characterised by illiterate
communities. Amongst the 11 clinics three were declared as "centres of
excellence", they include Nonesi, Philani and Xora clinics.
Other clinics that were opened at Cofimvaba include Upper Mcucuzo, Ncora,
Lower Seplan, Saint Marks, Lahlangubo, Mount Urther, Mkhapesi and many other
clinics.
Mrs Jajula said that government is on its mission to provide Primary
Healthcare to the communities of the province.
The MEC also mentioned that there were more clinics to be opened at the
Ukhahlamba District Municipality in June and at Amatole District Municipality
in July.
She praised health professionals including nurses and doctors in the area
for their sterling work to the communities saying that without them the Health
Profession will collapse.
"Without health workers in clinics and hospitals there will be no health
department and no life," she said.
The MEC appealed to the communities to visit their health centres to know
about their HIV and AIDS status. She also emphasised that the youth should
respect their parents and the elderly and they should respect different
cultures and traditions. She also mentioned that the government has set aside
R45 million bursaries to educate disadvantaged youth in the province.
"To become successful in life you should always know where you come from and
where you are going," she said.
Illnesses treated during the social services campaign include tuberculosis
(TB), diabetes, hypertension, dental problems, epilepsy, cardiac and many other
illnesses.
The MEC closed the Imbizo by personally visiting disadvantaged TB and HIV
victims in California, Ndondo Square and Mzimvubu Street in Cala where she gave
words of encouragement to the infected people. She also encouraged them to
cultivate vegetables and to stop smoking and drinking as these could be a
threat to their health. During these visits, food parcels and blankets donated
by the social development department were handed over.
The visited people were very impressed by the MEC's visit and encouraged the
department to keep up the good work as they were making them strong and have
hope of recovering.
Issued by: Department of Health, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
6 June 2007
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecpg.gov.za)
