Date: 23/11/2004
Source: Free State Provincial Government
Title: Belot: Philani Choir Competitions
THE SPEECH OF THE FREE STATE MEC FOR HEALTH, MR SAKHIWO BELOT, ON THE OCCASION OF THE PHILANI CHOIR COMPETITIONS
Programme Director;
Honoured Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Introduction:
In our quest for quality service delivery and due to the constraining nature of our work we often do not have sufficient time for other things such as recreation. A matter that we cannot hide or ignore is that in several of our institutions, where these choirs that are competing today are located, we are confronted with a challenge of shortage of personnel. Faced with these situations of personnel shortages and other demanding aspects of our job such as having to care for the ill, we come to work, do our bit and leave for home quite exhausted. Time for recreation is a luxury for many of us.
Nonetheless, I am impressed that there are still those of our personnel who feel that, despite all the odds, they will still find some time in their tight work schedules and stressful work situations to engage in this important work of recreation in the form of singing in this department. The fact that other people enter these choirs in the institutions must not be taken lightly. I suspect that the only time when we come to notice the importance of choir in the institutions is when there are important occasions taking place and we look around for someone to render a song or two. I think we should really start to appreciate the important role played by those who have committed themselves to singing in the institutions. They are not just doing it for themselves but for all of us. These choir competitions must thus also be seen as part of a process, not the beginning of the end.
Choir Competitions and Quality Service Delivery:
Programme director, ladies and gentlemen, our core business is health service delivery to the communities of the Free State. Some may therefore ask what business we have with regards to choir competitions. From where I stand, ladies and gentlemen, these choir competitions do not deviate an inch from our core business. It is our personnel who are key to service delivery. We therefore cannot have quality service delivery with unhappy and stressed personnel. The involvement of personnel in recreational activities such as choirs and so on assist us a great deal with the process of ensuring that our personnel is stress free and contend in their work environment.
It is also for this reason of quality service delivery that these choir competitions are linked to the Philani awards event which is tomorrow. We all know that the Philani awards ceremony is the embodiment and celebration of quality service. Over a two day period we hold these two events of Philani awards and choir competitions jointly as part of the November health focus month because both of them are inextricably linked to quality service that we strive for.
With all the powers and authority vested in me I want to encourage management and personnel in this department to take this matter of recreational activities beyond just the choirs. Every artistic, cultural and sporting activities must be explored to broaden the horizon of recreation in the department. Of course things do not and cannot happen in a vacuum. They need to be guided and directed by a policy framework. I am delighted therefore that plans are afoot to develop a recreational policy for the department, the policy which will serve as a guide on how to conduct or handle recreational activities in the department.
Conclusion:
Ladies and gentlemen, the core business of today is to sing and not to talk. Therefore with those short remarks I want to officially declare the 2004 Philani choir competition officially opened. Let me take this opportunity to really thank all those who have thrown themselves body and soul into these choirs and those who have really put their time and energy into organising this competition.
May the best choir win.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Health, Free State Provincial Government
23 November 2004
Source: Free State Provincial Government
Title: Belot: Philani Choir Competitions
THE SPEECH OF THE FREE STATE MEC FOR HEALTH, MR SAKHIWO BELOT, ON THE OCCASION OF THE PHILANI CHOIR COMPETITIONS
Programme Director;
Honoured Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Introduction:
In our quest for quality service delivery and due to the constraining nature of our work we often do not have sufficient time for other things such as recreation. A matter that we cannot hide or ignore is that in several of our institutions, where these choirs that are competing today are located, we are confronted with a challenge of shortage of personnel. Faced with these situations of personnel shortages and other demanding aspects of our job such as having to care for the ill, we come to work, do our bit and leave for home quite exhausted. Time for recreation is a luxury for many of us.
Nonetheless, I am impressed that there are still those of our personnel who feel that, despite all the odds, they will still find some time in their tight work schedules and stressful work situations to engage in this important work of recreation in the form of singing in this department. The fact that other people enter these choirs in the institutions must not be taken lightly. I suspect that the only time when we come to notice the importance of choir in the institutions is when there are important occasions taking place and we look around for someone to render a song or two. I think we should really start to appreciate the important role played by those who have committed themselves to singing in the institutions. They are not just doing it for themselves but for all of us. These choir competitions must thus also be seen as part of a process, not the beginning of the end.
Choir Competitions and Quality Service Delivery:
Programme director, ladies and gentlemen, our core business is health service delivery to the communities of the Free State. Some may therefore ask what business we have with regards to choir competitions. From where I stand, ladies and gentlemen, these choir competitions do not deviate an inch from our core business. It is our personnel who are key to service delivery. We therefore cannot have quality service delivery with unhappy and stressed personnel. The involvement of personnel in recreational activities such as choirs and so on assist us a great deal with the process of ensuring that our personnel is stress free and contend in their work environment.
It is also for this reason of quality service delivery that these choir competitions are linked to the Philani awards event which is tomorrow. We all know that the Philani awards ceremony is the embodiment and celebration of quality service. Over a two day period we hold these two events of Philani awards and choir competitions jointly as part of the November health focus month because both of them are inextricably linked to quality service that we strive for.
With all the powers and authority vested in me I want to encourage management and personnel in this department to take this matter of recreational activities beyond just the choirs. Every artistic, cultural and sporting activities must be explored to broaden the horizon of recreation in the department. Of course things do not and cannot happen in a vacuum. They need to be guided and directed by a policy framework. I am delighted therefore that plans are afoot to develop a recreational policy for the department, the policy which will serve as a guide on how to conduct or handle recreational activities in the department.
Conclusion:
Ladies and gentlemen, the core business of today is to sing and not to talk. Therefore with those short remarks I want to officially declare the 2004 Philani choir competition officially opened. Let me take this opportunity to really thank all those who have thrown themselves body and soul into these choirs and those who have really put their time and energy into organising this competition.
May the best choir win.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Health, Free State Provincial Government
23 November 2004
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