In our endeavour to ensure effective governance that is critical to delivering access to quality health care services and the accountability of health services to communities, the Northern Cape Health MEC, Mr Maruping Lekwene today welcomed 230 hospital board and clinic committee members appointed to represent various health facilities in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District. The induction programme conducted today is part of our ongoing strategy to ensure that these structures are empowered to achieve meaningful and ensure optimum participation and, therefore, ensure effective and efficient health service delivery. Today’s induction was clasp at Wrenchville Civic Centre in the Gasegonyana local Municipality. Among those in attendance, includes; - Ward Councillors from various municipalities, hospital board and clinic committee members, senior managers in the Department of Health. 

The Northern Cape MEC for Health, Mr Maruping Lekwene, together with the HOD for Health in the province, Dr Dion Theys and Senior managers took part in the 67 minutes for Mandela Day commemorations . In playing their part for Mandela Day, MEC Lekwene together with health staff cleaned the facility, painted and refurbished the kitchen and also donated some appliances to the Lingelethu Community Health Care Centre in Upington, ZF Mgcawu District.  MEC highlighted the importance of doing our part as individuals and also looking after our health care facilities and our fellow man. Mandela Day is celebrated annually on 18 July to honour the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela. Mandela Day is a call for action for individuals – for people everywhere – to take responsibility for changing the world into a better place in any way they can. 

The Namakwa leg of the induction and orientation of clinic commitees and hospital boards  took place successfully today . 
Over 178 members have been appointed to serve on governance structures in facilities across the greater Namakwa District. The induction took place at Springbok Guest Farm, Nama-Khoi local municipality and was attended by, amongst others, MEC for Health in the Northern Cape, Mr Maruping Lekwene, Mayor of Namakwa District Municipality , Cllr Mervin Cloete, District Director, Mr Grootboom as well as Ward Councillors. The induction and orientation which was facilitated by Reverend Basimane Makoko focused, amongst other things, on creating governance structures that bridge the communication gap between health care facilities and the communities they serve. 
MEC Lekwene wished the newly appointed members the best of luck and urged them to put the people that have appointed them first in the work that they do. 

The Northern Cape Department of Health convened its second successful induction and orientation workshop for over 200 newly appointed members in the Pixley Ka Seme District, to serve on the Hospital boards and Clinic committees. The induction took place at De Aar Hospital in the Emthanjeni local Municipality.
Among those attending the session, includes; - Health MEC, Mr Maruping Lekwene, Mayor of Emthanjeni Municipality, Cllr. Lulamile Nkumbi, Speaker of Ubuntu Municipality, Cllr Vuyo Yekani and Ward Councillors.
Section 42 of the National Health Act requires these committees to include; one or more local government councillors, one or more members of the community served by the health facility and the head of the health facility.Today’s training mainly focused on building community health activists who are knowledgeable on both substantive and procedural issues related to public health issues.