The Western Cape Minister of Social Development, Albert Fritz, addressed the Parow Community Health Centre during its Open Day.
The Open Day is aimed at raising greater awareness of the full basket of services offered by the facility, including its community and social work initiatives. The Open Day was an opportunity to showcase these services, which include;
- child health,
- chronic care,
- emergency care,
- reproductive health,
- mental health,
- pharmacy,
- TB and HIV counselling and testing.
The Minister was joined by NGO partners from child protection organisation, Childline.
In his address to the public and patients present, Minister stressed the importance of focusing health and social work on supporting families. “The department provided 22 385 family preservation interventions during the 2017/18 year, and this aimed at developing referral pathways for parents and children to access services”, said Minister Fritz.
Minister Fritz continued on to say, “I’m a firm believer in the whole-of-society approach to tackling the growing problem of alcohol and drug abuse, and this is where health and social work professionals can play a key role in referring addicts to our growing network of 25 treatment facilities, working at over 51 sites across the province”.
The Minister continued to urge the South African Police Services to ramp up law enforcement and tackle the suppliers of harmful substances and drugs. “SAPS cannot win the battle if they continue to under-resource the Western Cape, which currently only has a ratio of 1 police officer to 509 citizens, whereas the required ratio is 1 to 300”.
Media Enquiries:
Sihle Ngobese
Tel: 021 483 9217
Cell: 076 083 6543
E-mail: Sihle.Ngobese@westerncape.gov.za
