To: All Media Institutions
NORTHERN CAPE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH’S UPDATE ON THE DELIVERY OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN THE FRANCES BAARD DISTRICT.
Following a series of extensive consultations with key health stakeholders this past week, the Department solicited immediate solutions to be implemented towards strengthening the delivery of health services in the Northern Cape.
In the Frances Baard, facilities identified includes - Connie Vorster District hospital, Pampierstad CHC, Jan Kempdorp CHC, Warrenton CHC, Sakhile Clinic, Galeshewe Day Hospital, Valspan Clinic and Prof ZK Matthews District Hospital, respectively.
The implementation plan agreed upon towards improving services at these facilities, includes among others; - immediate appointment of 16 sessional nurses as well as fast-tracking the permanent appointments of 30 nurses and 4 medical officers.
We can confirm that the following appointments were finalised recently for Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital and these includes; - 5 pharmacists, 6 radiographers, 7 medical officers, 3 medical and orthotic officers, 3 specialists as well as 2 managers for therapeutic services and quality assurance.
Furthermore, a provincial advert will soon be placed for the recruitment of 249 permanent support staff ranging from: housekeeper supervisors, laundry supervisors, cleaners, porters, general assistants, drivers, registry clerks, food services aids, admin clerks, mortuary assistants, artisans, human resource and supply chain management staff. This is to ensure improved support for clinical services in our public health facilities.
These interventions emanate from sector engagements and comes with resource implications, requiring greater investment to create sustainable services to communities. The Department always take extra ordinary steps and multi-faceted approach of immediate, short and long term intervention to meet appropriate staffing needs, as this remain pivotal towards improving the delivery of health services to communities. This relates to fair and equal distribution, recruitment and retention of health workers in all facilities across the Province.
The Department wish to advise the communities that this approach cuts across all five districts, not only centered around Frances Baard District. MEC Lekwene will elaborate more on key achievements and plans moving forward to bring stability in the delivery of health services in all five Districts, during his upcoming budget speech of the department on the 15 June 2022.
In respect to challenges relating to procurement of essential services to improve service delivery and efficiencies in health facilities, ALL district managers are empowered with financial delegations to ensure efficacies within their entire district health system.
The department has further assigned an intervention team from the Provincial health office to support Frances Baard District Health Services including Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital with putting additional systems in place to expedite service delivery. The team will further bolster support to other districts, following this process.
In terms of pharmaceuticals, the Department has enough stock at its medical depot and make use of the Stock Visibility System to monitor and provide immediate support to facilities requiring additional supplies. With regards to consumables, our stock levels in health facilities are satisfactory and additional orders have been placed to ensure buffer stock.
The MEC further expressed his unwavering support and appreciation to EXCO, management and staff in department, as well as stakeholders for their strategic role and continuous support towards the delivery of health services in the province.
“Health workers are the most treasured and valuable asset of our health system. It is a system that is inherently labour intensive, therefore the employer and employee relationship is one that is an invariable of our health system. As the department, we have crafted our strategy of emerging successfully to achieve advanced level of health care.” – MEC Lekwene said.
In an effort of modernizing health care services, we wish to remind communities that the Department is currently working on migration of the current telephone systems with call centers. This includes the movement from an analogue based system to a complete digitalized call center solution. Therefore, in cases of any emergency, the public is encouraged to still make use of the 112 and 10117 emergency number. In addition, the Department is promoting the 087 759 2154 for Frances Baard, John Taolo Gaetsewe & Pixley Ka Seme residents and 087 759 2153 for those residing in the Pixley Ka Seme and ZF Mgcawu Districts.
In conclusion, MEC Lekwene commits towards resolving all teething challenges in the department and generally improving the delivery of health care service to communities.
For enquiries, contact:
Mr Lebogang Majaha
Media Liaison Officer
Office of the MEC for Health
Northern Cape Province
0718836404
