Programme director
Amakhosi
Kwa-Machi Traditional Authority under Inkosi Machi
Kwa–Fodo Traditional Authority under Inkosi Dlamini
Izinduna kanye neSigungu
MEC for Finance, Honourable Ina Cronje
Mayor, Councillor Ngubo
Our District Manager, Mr Veeran Chetty
KwaMbonwa Clinic Committee Chairperson, Mr Sicelo Mbuthuma
Abasebenzi boMnyango in all categories
Malunga omphakathi ahloniphekile
We consider it a great honour to have this event just three days after our Premier, Honorable Dr Zweli Mkhize gave the province direction in his State of the Province Address under the theme: “kwaZulu-Natal must work together to take South Africa forward.”
Specific to us in the Health sector and working in conjunction with leaders in the different strands of society, the Premier declared: ‘It is important to acknowledge that the burden of disease that is affecting South Africa has its epicentre in this province. Similarly, to improve the overall health outcomes in South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal must first improve’.
Today we are happy that we once again on the right track bringing closer health services closer to where our people are by building and handing over two clinics, that is Santombe as well as KwaMbonwa Clinics that combined are servicing a total population of 27 000 people under the Umuziwabantu Municipality.
Today we have pleasure of reporting to Ondabezitha:
- Inkosi Machi that the Department of Health has spent a sum of R8,5 million building the KwaMbonwa Clinic to provide service to the residents of Wards 7; 8 and 9.
- Inkosi Dlamini that the department allocated a sum of R5, 5 million in the construction of Santombe Clinic for people residing in wards 1 and 14. Since this clinic started operating in September 2010 we are requesting that UNdabezitha and Councillor Dlamini in charge of this area assist in the appointment of the clinic committee for this new facility.
The Santombe Clinic currently operates 8 hours a day and 5 days a week but this may change on demand since we have nurses that are housed in the flats that we have provided.
For the community members utilising the KwaMbonwa Clinic we are confirming that this facility though operating 8 hours a day, our personnel remain on call 7 days a week.
We are also reporting that both these clinics are available and can be used for planned and emergency deliveries. We appeal to the leadership here including traditional and religious leaders to work with us to ensure that all expectant mothers make use of these two clinics for both the ante-natal and post –natal care.
Programme director whilst on the issue of expectant mothers, I would also like to raise a matter of serious concern that was recently highlighted by the Minister of Basic Education who also happens to be the President of the ANC Women’s League, Honourable Angie Motsega. I guess she can collapse if she gets to know about the very high rate of teenage pregnancy in this area. Ondabezitha have to hear this; that for the period between 2009 and 2010 a total number of 123 school children fell pregnant in this area:
- Jolwayo high School - 83 girls
- KwaMbonwa High school -14 girls
- Cekeza High School - 26 girls.
Beside the fact that this is scandalous, we also need to caution and warn amadoda alendawo that it is a crime to have sex with a minor as according the Sexual Offences Act of 2007 the child under the age of 18 cannot consent to sexual intercourse.
AIDS statistics are already pointing to a worrying trend for the greater Umuziwabantu Municipality, if parents and elders don’t take a stand, a disaster is looming. According to HIV Counselling and Testing statistics of April 2010 to 11 February 2011 out of 28 881 that came forward for testing – 4 662 tested HIV positive.
In the period between January and December 2010, at KwaMbonwa Clinic alone, we treated a total number of 301 people for Sexually Transmitted Infections and in Santombe Clinic which opened its doors only at the end of September 104 STI cases were attended to – that is between October 2010 and February (this month).
Remember the Premier says, it is KwaZulu-Natal that should work to take South Africa forward.
Programme director, just four days ago His Majesty the King, uHlanga loMhlabathi officially opened the KwaZulu Natal Parliament and praised ourefforts in as far as the Medical Male Circumcision is concerned saying: ‘… lapha KwaZulu Natal kunabantu besilisa abevile ku 17 000 abasokwa akwaze kwaba khona miphumela emibi eyavela. Akekho owafayo, akekhoowasiseka kabi; futhi akekho nokwathi emva kokusokwa kwaba nesidingosokuba ahlinzwe ukuze kulungiswe okonakele’.
Our King will be disappointed to learn that Medical Male Circumcision (MMC) is still a problem amongst the community members in this area. We are really not performing well in this regard as since April 2010 to January this year, reports received from our facilities which include clinics and St Andrews Hospital show that only 418 males have come forward. Malunga omphakathi kanye nezinkokheli zethu basibambisaneni.
Programme director, in my capacity as the MEC for Health it is befitting that I also give advice that a whole lot of diseases can be circumvented if our people can adopt a healthy lifestyle – beginning with exercising. Our facilities would not be overloaded with preventable ailments as for instance just between October 2010 and February this year, Santombe Clinic has 62 Hypertension patients on treatment, with KwaMbonwa Clinic taking care of 53.
Lastly, we advise you to make use of the opportunities made available by our democratic government as emphasised by our President, Honourable Jacob Zuma when he directed all government departments to make a contribution in job creation. For the period of 2011/12 the Department of Health in KwaZulu-Natal will recruit and train a total of 1 256 nurses, and 55 of them must come from UGU District. Please do read Ilanga and Mercury to check for adverts and do not be left behind as recruitment is district based. Let us all commit to improve our lives and play our role in shaping the future of this country.
Working together we will achieve more!
I thank you.
Source: KwaZulu-Natal Health
