Speech by the Honorable MEC for Health, Mr Mxolisi Sokatsha on the occasion of the official opening of the Jerry Botha Clinic in Hartswater, Frances Baard District – Northern Cape 
31 March 2010 – 14H00
Good afternoon to all. It is indeed a wonderful privilege and honor for me to join you here today. I wish to thank you all today for celebrating this important milestone for the community of Hartswater with the official opening of the new Jerry Botha clinic.
Today is a reflection of how government is working towards the improvement of our people’s lives and bettering specifically healthcare service delivery. According to the Constitution in the Bill of Rights, Chapter two, it clearly states that: “Everyone has the right to have access to health care services, including reproductive health care and no one may be refused emergency medical treatment”. As the Department of Health we are committed to these rights and ensuring that all citizens experience them.
As government, we are guided by the Health related Millennium Development Goals(MDG) with 2015 as the target date. The MDG’s serve as markers of the most basic challenges ahead relating to health are: to stop women from dying during pregnancy and child birth, to protect young children from ill-health and death, and to tackle the major communicable diseases, in particular HIV/AIDS.
President Jacob Zuma on January 9 2010 stated that:”The ANC government has put in place a ten point plan to improve access to health care and to reduce inequality in the health system. We are beginning to take active measures to strengthen our public health sector so that it is in a position to produce better health outcomes”.
In addition, the issues raised by communities in the build-up to the April 2009 elections provided the basis for Health being prioritized as part of the five priority areas to which the ANC led government has committed to deliver on in the next five years. Based on this, the opening of this clinic is a direct response to the call of the people.
Programme Director, the new Jerry Botha clinic we are opening here today, must be seen as another step towards cost-effective and sustainable integration of health services in this part of our province. The new clinic will replace the old Hartswater clinic. The old clinic had many challenges regarding service delivery namely there was no proper waiting area or pharmacy and in totality was too small. The new clinic facility, erected at a cost of six million rand (R6M), is within the community and is easily within the reach of most of the people. Accommodation facilities have been added to all new clinics to ensure we attract and retain healthcare professionals to our rural areas and ensure they have adequate living space to provide exceptional service to our people.
In the health sector there have been many achievements in improving access to health care, but more needs to be done in terms of quality care, making services available and ensuring better health outcomes.
His Excellency, Mr Jacob Zuma, President of the country, indicated in his State of the Nation Address on 11 February 2010 that: “We will continue to improve our healthcare system. This includes building and upgrading hospitals and clinics and further improving the working conditions of healthcare workers”. Today, as the ANC led government , we are adhering to the call of our President with the opening of this new state of the art clinic for the people of Hartswater.
During 2008 the Department of Health launched the newly renovated Jan Kempdorp Treatment Site for HIV and Aids in partnership with Right to Care. This site is available to all surrounding communities and is evidence of how government is bringing services closer to the people. This is a true reflection that successful implementation of health care programmes depends on effective partnerships with institutions of civil society in improving the delivery of quality health care.
Overhauling of the national health system has been identified by government as a key aspect. This will assist government in attaining our health priorities for the next five years. Among these priorities is the accelerated implementation of the HIV and AIDS strategic plan, the need to address the co-infection of TB/HIV and to increase governments focus on the high burden of disease.
Ladies and gentlemen, I thus appeal to you, as the community of Hartswater, to work with your new clinic and to take advantage of the benefits that this facility brings here. It is your duty to make decisions regarding your health, and to understand the causes of illnesses. It is also your responsibility to lead a healthy lifestyle through healthy diet, regular exercise and by avoiding risky behavior such as smoking and alcohol abuse.
The main health challenges in the province and this are, are TB and HIV/AIDS. TB is one of the major killers in our country. This is despite the fact that TB is curable. It is reported that some people do not want to take their medication. They don’t want to be cured because they want to benefit from the temporary disability grant. However, what they forget is that they may also die as a result of their behaviour. Some of them risk living behind their children and families who still need them. When you don’t take your treatment in the manner that you should, the TB you have may also become serious.
Ladies and Gentlemen, when we speak about TB it is important that we also speak about HIV and AIDS. We must continue throughout the year to commemorate Red Ribbon month and World AIDS day as government’s contribution to fight HIV and AIDS. We know that there is a close link between HIV and TB. This does not mean that every person who has TB is HIV positive. But if you are HIV positive you are very likely to have TB. However even in this case TB can be cured, it only means that you must take your medication.
Programme director, as government we will keep on telling our people that you must abstain especially young people. Let’s focus on our education instead, they say the best things in life come to those who wait and work for them. It is important that those who are in relationships remain faithful in those relationships. Information available indicates that HIV infection is growing amongst the older and the middle age generation. This is the economically active generation that is in stable relationships and in the working age.
Programme director, I want to take this opportunity to quote His Excellency, Mr Jacob Zuma, President of the country, when he indicated in his State of the Nation Address on 11 February 2010 that:” We are therefore making interventions to lower mortality rates, to reduce new HIV infections and to effectively treat HIV and Tuberculosis”.
Ladies and gentlemen, as government we are committed to address the challenges of the past, which has left a large part of the population without adequate health care services and facilities. Much progress has been by the government in improving the lives and health of millions of citizens, but we must remember that this is an ongoing process. Although numerous challenges influence health service delivery in our communities and at health care facilities like water connections, electricity, municipal sewerage connections, we are working together with all relevant departments and partners to address these challenges.
We want to motivate and urge our people to continue supporting the international campaign of 16 Days of Activism: No violence against women and children under the theme: “Halve gender based violence by 2015”. This campaign aims to make people aware of the negative impact of violence on women and children and to act against abuse. Government is committed to building a caring and peaceful society that protects its women and children from all forms of violence.
Ladies and gentlemen, I want to urge all parents to take their children to the clinic for their immunizations from April- May 2010. All our children have to get immunized against Measles and Polio and to be provided with Vitamin A and deworming medication.
Programme director, I would like to conclude by reiterating the importance of community involvement and participation as well as the process of consultation. Government alone cannot do anything on their own. With your help and inputs, can the planning and the management of health services in your community be successful. We must get involve in local structures like clinic committees regarding health services and through this you can assist in the monitoring of the Batho pele principles and the Patients Charter Rights.
I want to say that this clinic belongs to all in Hartswater. It is your responsibility as community members to take care of it and protect it from vandalism.
Ladies and gentleman, the new clinic is named in memory of the late Comrade Jerry Botha. He was a very committed activist in his struggle days. He started his political career as a student leader of COSAS. He then graduated to the ANC Youth League and ultimately became the branch secretary of the ANC in Hartswater. He was a candidate during the 2000 elections, when he untimely passed away.
It is with great pleasure that I, on behalf of government, now officially open the Jerry Botha Clinic here in Hartswater and I trust and hope the services here will meet your needs and expectations.
Working together, we can do more!
Thank you!!!
Dankie
Realeboga!!!