Modern, Growing, Successful Province

Opening of the new St. Anna’s Clinic

08 July 2010 : 14h00

Speech by the Honourable MEC for Health, Mr Mxolisi Sokatsha, on the occasion of the official opening of the new St. Anna’s Clinic in Hondeklipbaai- Namaqua District : Northern Cape
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Programme Director

Honorable Speaker of the Northern Cape Legislature

Members of the Provincial Legislature

Members of the Executive Council

Chairperson and Members of the Provincial Portfolio Committee on Health

The Honorable Executive Mayor and Speaker of the Namaqua District Municipality

The Honorable Mayor of Kamiesberg Local Municipality

All Municipal Councilors Present

Senior Managers, District managers and Departmental officials from the Provincial and Regional Department of Health

Representatives from all the different community and religious institutions and structures in Hondeklipbaai and surrounding areas

Distinguished Guests

Members of the media

Ladies and Gentlemen

Goeiemore aan almal en ‘n spesiale welkom aan al die inwoners van Namakwaland en spesifiek die mense van Hondeklipbaai. Today we are celebrating the end of a journey that was filled with hope and excitement. I am honored to be part of this historic event and the process aimed at improving the lives of the people of Hondeklipbaai and the community as a whole. Dames en here, vandag vier ons die amptelike opening van die nuwe St Anna’s Kliniek in Hondeklipbaai.

Today we are also celebrating and realizing the fact that the ANC led government is committed in delivering on it’s mandate to the people of South-Africa which is: to create a better life for all. Guided by the “Batho Pele-People first” principles and the Freedom Charter, we as government continuously aim to better the lives of all people in our beloved province and country South-Africa. The government, under the leadership of the African National Congress, has made a commitment to provide essential government services to our people, especially where services were lacking, non-existing or not accessible in communities like Hondeklipbaai.

Die opening van die nuwe kliniek moet gesien word as ‘n reaksie op ons mense se versoeke tydens die April 2009 verkiesing om gesondheidsdienste te verbeter. Dit het daartoe gelei dat die ANC regering gesondheid identifiseer het as een van die vyf fokus areas vir die volgende vyf jaar tesame met onderwys, landelike ontwikkeling, werkskepping en misdaad bekamping. Ons het verder ‘n Tien Punt Plan opgestel wat ten doel het om alle gesondheidsektor uitdagings in ons land aan te spreek. Die opening van die nuwe kiliniek resorteer direk onder Punt 6: verbetering van infrastruktuur van hierdie plan.

His Excellency, Mr Jacob Zuma, President of the country, in his State of the Nation Address on 11 February 2010 stated that: “We will continue to improve out 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 clinic for the people of Hondeklipbaai.

We have come to realize a moment that has been happily awaited by the people of Hondeklipbaai. This is a very important development right here within and amongst the people. To this effect we will also be expanding the range of services that we will be providing to people through primary health care. Most of our clinics, including this one are being developed to provide a comprehensive package of health services. The services that will be provided here will be universally acceptable, accessible and quality will be assured. For us as the ANC led government we do not only seek to chase delivery targets without quality. Hence I am emphasizing this point of quality assurance.

Die nuwe kliniek is gebou teen ‘n geraamde koste van sewe miljoen rand. Die nuwe kliniek sluit ook akkomodasie geriewe in vir personeel om sodoende professionele gesondheidswerkers te lok en te behou in ons landelike gebiede om te verseker hulle het gerieflike behuising om uitstekende dienste aan ons mense te lewer.

Ek doen ‘n beroep op die inwoners van Hondeklipbaai om as ‘n gemeenskap met die nuwe kliniek saam te werk en om voordeel te trek uit die voordele wat hierdie fasiliteit gaan bied. Die inwoners van Hondeklipbaai wat nie kan bekostig om ‘n privaat dokter te besoek nie, moet die versekering het dat hulle dieselfde kwaliteit dienste sal hier ontvang by die nuwe kliniek. Inwoners moet seker wees dat die voorgeskrewe medikasie wat hulle benodig, altyd beskikbaar sal wees hier by die kliniek.

The main health challenges in our province and country 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. When you don’t take your treatment in the manner that you should, the TB you have may also become serious like MDR and XDR TB.

When we speak about TB it is important that we also speak about 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.

A number of other services will be extended from the clinic, this will be geared to addressing the disease profile of the area and challenges of health we encounter, amongst these are:

* Maternal Health and Women Protection –antenatal and postnatal care

*Family planning and child care

*Treatment and management of communicable disease such as TB and HIV/AIDS.

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.

Dames en here, voor ek afsluit wil ek die belangrikheid van gemeenskaps betrokkenheid en deelname asook konsultasie beklemtoon. Die regering kan nie alles alleen vermag. 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 as a community can assist in the monitoring of the Batho pele principles and the Patients Charter Rights.

We need the clinic to be an inspiration to the children of Hondeklipbaai, they must aspire to be nurses and doctors like those who will be coming here to offer vital services.
Die mense van Hondeklipbaai moet trots wees die dag as hulle behandel word deur ‘n dokter wat gebore en groot geword het hier in die gemeenskap. Daar is baie geleenthede vir ons jong mense in die gesondheidsektor. Beurse word verskaf en ons benodig verpleegsters, dokters en paramedici onder andere.

Dames en here, op 30 April 2010 was die Provinsiale Vrywillige Toetsing vir HIV veldtog geloods deur Premier Hazel Jenkins in die John Taolo Gaetsewe Distrik en as regering versoek almal om hulself vrywilliglik te gaan toets by die naaste kliniek of hospitaal om hul HIV status te bepaal. As regering beoog ons om teen Junie 2011, vyftien miljoen mense te bereik wat hulself getoets het vir HIV en berading ontvang het. In die Noord-Kaap Provincsie, beoog ons om oor die drie honderd duisend mense te bereik.

Die nuwe kliniek behoort aan almal in Hondeklipbaai. Dit is u verantwoordelikheid om dit te beskerm teen vandalisme en eienaarskap te aanvaar vir die kliniek. Die nuwe kliniek is vernoem ter nagedagtenis aan Anna Ruiter en Anna Matthys. Hierdie twee vroue was in die verlede, voor die koms van klinieke, behulpsaam met een of ander siekte toestand van die inwoners in die omgewing. Hulle was ook bekend as vroedvroue, wat bevallings hanteer het. Swanger vroue was deur hierdie twee vroue bygestaan en van raad en behandeling voorsien. Hulle het in die dorp Hondeklipbaai sowel as op naburige plase diens verrig sonder enige vergoeding.

In closing, I want to remind our all that July marks the commemoration of Moral Regeneration Month, an initiative of the Moral Regeneration Movement, which is aimed at encouraging people to recommit to efforts of building communities grounded on positive values and rededicate to building a caring society in pursuit of creating lasting peace and prosperity in the country. The commemoration is celebrated under the theme: "Together reclaiming our humanity through the Charter of Positive Values", coincides with the celebration of Mandela Day on 18 July and the birthday month of former President Nelson Mandela, an icon who is considered to be the main leader of the formation of the Moral Regeneration Movement.

Dames en here, dit is met groot plesier en waardering dat ons nou amptelik die nuwe St Anna’s Kliniek in Hondeklipbaai open en ons hoop die dienste wat verskaf sal word , aan u behoeftes en verwagtinge sal voldoen.

“Deur saam te werk, kan ons meer doen!”

Dankie!

Thank you!

Air Jordan

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