Ndabezitha Inkosi B Nzimakwe
Transport, Community safety and Liaison MEC Hon Willies Mchunu
Ugu District Mayor Cllr Gumede
District and Ward councillors present
Clinic committee chairperson Mr B Shusha
Government officials at all levels
Malunga omphakathi ahloniphekile
It gives us a great pleasure to come here at Braemar to officially hand over this much needed health care facility intended to improve the health and well-being of all our 28 000 citizens residing here kwa Nzimakwe and surrounding areas.
This entails those from Nkoneni; Two- stick; Dleshiya; Buthongweni; California; Mkanti and Dumezulu, encompassing three wards which include: Ward 8, Ward 10, and Ward 11.
Ndabezitha, the total value of this project was R5,918,000.00. Ndabezitha, two days ago we were privileged to have our Honourable Premier, Mr Senzo Mchunu, chairing the KZN Provincial Aids Council at the Royal Showground’s where he looked at overall progress and challenges in all our Districts in as far as HIV and AIDS status is concern.
Allow me to give an account of some of the worrying things that came out about Ugu District as a whole:
- Eight (8) women died during pregnancy or immediately after delivering in hospitals April to August 2013.
- One hundred and thirty four (134 ) children less than 5 years of age died in the Hospitals in the period April to August 2013
- Four hundred sixty seven (467) new sexual cases recorded from January to June this year,
Three hundred and five (305) being children under the age of 12
The initial two aspects are both preventable and require the humbly and enthusiastic support and guidance from Amakhosi; traditional healers; abefundisi; councillors and the community at large on the following:
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Early ante-natal councelling (ANC) booking
Women must attend clinic as soon after missing period or when she is suspicious.
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Dispelling myths
Cultural believe that the woman must wait until the tummy shows should be discouraged this puts young mothers in danger.
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Family planning
Condoms together with either pills, injection, closing of the tubes (tubal ligation or vasectomy) to be promoted
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Waiting mother areas
Expectant mothers who reside in areas that have transport difficulties to be admitted in the hospitals a week before their date of labour.
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Social ills to be tackled
Street and ward committees to be formed to tackle drug and alcohol abuse as means to channel focus away from unprotected and reckless sexual practices.
Healthy lifestyle activities in the forms of games, aerobics and physical exercises to be organised to occupy and develop the youth. Ndabezitha, all the above can be derived and facilitated in this clinic that we are handing over today.
Over and above, we request the community members to make full use of this clinic and as it offer other essential services in the form of:
- Post-natal care
- Planned and emergency deliveries
- Prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT)
- Child health services
- Chronic diseases
- Minor ailments
- Emergency care
- HIV counselling and testing
- Communicable diseases
- Antiretrovirals (ARVs) including nurse-initiated AR
It has been decided that this Braemar Clinic would operate for eight hours a day from 07h00 16h00, five days a week Monday to Friday since it is situated +-5 kms from Ntabeni Clinic which is a 24 hr. clinic.
Even then, it does offer emergency care as nurses here have been provided with three nurses' homes which consist of one 2-bedrooms and two 1-bedroom that have a lounge and dining area; kitchen; toilet; shower and fitted cupboards.
So far, we are happy about the performance of this clinic since its commissioning in December 2010 when it attended to 510 patients; growing to 14 744 in 2011 and ultimately to 18 502 patients last year.
Imisebenzi kaHulumeni Iyabonakala
We are also announcing to Ndabezitha and all the community members that this Clinic does the initiation of ARVs for all adults and children and that most importantly it is supported by a Doctor who does weekly visits.
Uyasithanda loHulumeni!
We invite you to utilize this clinic to immunise your children; to test for HIV and TB; to do your PAP spears and to also use it as a general source for health related information. It is our individual responsibility to take care of our own health as means to achieve the core outcomes of government which is to ensure “a long and healthy life for all South Africans.”
As a country, it puts us in a very bad light to continue having women dying whilst giving birth.
Ayishintshe impilo kulendawo
To the staff of this beautiful institution we want to impress that they are expected to uphold the six National Core Standards in what we in the province call: ‘Make Me look like a Hospital.
This entails adherence to the following:
- Infection control
- Reducing long queues
- Availability of medicines
- Security and safety of staff
- Cleanliness, as well as,
- Attitude of staff
Lastly, we appeal to the members of the community to safeguard this clinic and the staff deployed here. This is your facility!!
Phambili nempilo engcono
I thank you
