Health Services Conference
29 March 2007
Programme Director
Honoured guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Community service for health professionals was implemented with success by
this government in 2000 and at that stage, 60 medical doctors performed
community service in our health facilities. Since then a further 420 doctors
have touched the lives of many patients in this province.
Today we are gathered here to welcome the first multi-disciplinary group of
community health service professionals in the Free State for 2007. This group
includes medical doctors, allied health professions such as radiographers,
occupational therapists, physiotherapists, pharmacists, dentist, clinical
psychologists, dieticians, speech and hearing therapists and environmental
health practitioners.
Programme Director, health service professionals, especially medical doctors
are a scarce commodity in our country. We see these young professionals leave
our shores for greener pastures and in many cases see the working conditions in
the public service facilities are poor with heavy workloads, a perceived
shortage of resources and demands from patients. One should however not forget
about the tremendous impact the presence of this cadre of health professional
has on the community they serve.
Programme Director, I can safely say that the quality of our healthcare
services has improved, as we are now able to provide much needed medical
services in our clinics. Since the start of the community service for the
allied health professionals, as a department we are now able to stretch our
reach even further.
In 2008, another group of health professionals will join the department with
the deployment of community service professional nurses in our services. We
have created 311 posts to accommodate the graduates and hope that we will be
able to fill all the posts.
I have called this conference together with the specific aim of having an
opportunity to not only welcome all our community health service professionals,
but also to provide a preview into the heart of the Free State Department of
Health. The presentations to be presented here during the two days will focus
on providing information on protocols, projects, the referral system in the
Free State, human resource issues such as skills development and training and
other matters. I would request that during the work sessions, delegates
participate with enthusiasm as we would like to learn about the challenges
facing community service professionals and how we can improve our service to
you.
Lastly, may I offer a word of welcome to one and all and express my
gratitude for the time you will be working in our service and contributing to a
healthy and self reliant Free State community. You have been exposed to the
realities of healthcare in our country for a while now, and would realise how
badly this country needs you. The Free State province and the Department of
Health are proud to be associated with your team. Make us all proud.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Health, Free State Provincial Government
29 March 2007
