City
25 October 2007
The Member of Executive Council (MEC) for Health, Mrs Nomsa Jajula, and her
team descended on Port Elizabeth's Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University as
part of her Service Transformation Plan (STP) Draft consultative briefings.
She stressed the increase in the disease profile of communities, seeing that
non-communicable diseases like, mental illnesses, breast cancer and mental
health were on the rise due to stress within the environments, many people
affecting our lives and the kind of food we eat. The MEC also put emphasis on
the need of the people of the Eastern Cape to understand the STP. She also
mentioned the resolve to half the spread of HIV and AIDS by 2011 and the
intended evaluation of the STP by 2009.
Mrs ZZ Macingwane, General Manager for Health Promotions, followed the MEC's
presentation with an introduction on what the STP is, gliding over the National
Health Priorities, the Integrated Health Planning Framework and Objectives of
the STP, and how they envisage the improvement of quality of care,
strengthening strategic health programmes, the strengthening of physical
infrastructure and human resources.
"The objectives of the STP have a bearing on efficiency and effectiveness of
the methodology and equity of access to services," she said. Mrs Macingwane
highlighted the inter-sectoral approach the STP seeks to achieve with Eskom,
Roads, Traditional Health Practitioners, Stakeholders and Communities being
very pivotal in this regard coupled with the training of hospital boards and
committees.
Dr Litha Matiwane, General Manager for Hospital Management Services, wrapped
up the presentation with a description of the health facilities, the proposed
reclassification of health services with an emphasis of Emergency Medical
Services and Telehealth Programme. He also mentioned the Patient Management
System the department intends to introduce through the Service Transformation
Plan.
Concerns raised ranged from the filling of posts, rumours of intended
lowering of standards in health provision and "closures" of certain hospitals,
however the concerns raised were adequately addressed.
The MEC invited comments on the STP Draft Plan from all stakeholders.
Enquiries:
Sizwe Kupelo
Media Liaison Officer
Cell: 083 378 0196
Issued by: Department of Health, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
25 October 2007
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecpg.gov.za)
