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Date
: 28/02/2006
Source: Northern Cape Provincial Government
Title: Peters: Sod turning for Phillips Town Clinic
Speech by Premier of the Northern Cape, Ms ED Peters, MPL,
at the sod turning ceremony for the Phillips Town Clinic
Programme Director,
The Mayor of Renosterberg Municipality,
Councillors,
MEC Shiwe Selao,
Department of Health officials,
Distinguished guests, friends,
I am honoured today to come here and join you for the official sod
turning of the new Phillips Town Clinic. We have two initiatives of
sod turnings in this municipality today, it shows that as the
African National Congress (ANC) led government we have a purpose
and we are on a mission.
The health vision of 2014 has accelerated delivery and is bound to
improve the lives of people and create jobs. We are in Renosterberg
Municipality to once more fulfil our commitment and promises to the
people. The ANC government is one that commits itself and delivers
accordingly.
The construction of the new clinic on this site, I would say, will
not just be a delivery of mortar and bricks. The new clinic already
spells out new possibilities and opportunities for the communities
of Phillips Town in particular.
We insist that in the process of construction local people must
receive preference for employment. We also remain firmly bias in
reducing the gender discrepancy in employment, it is now accepted
that if you want to create sustainable families employ women.
I have also made the commitment in the state of the province
address that we will source all building materials that are
available in the province locally, this will be included the
contract with the relevant contractor.
As people, we government delivery is presenting us with a medium
and long term challenge. We must also develop and educate ourselves
so that we take ownership of this facility including others and
become the ones who will be responsible for rendering both the
professional and support services that this facilities will have to
provide.
To this effect we have been encouraging the youth in all local
communities to seize the opportunities provided by our democracy
and government. I have carried this message in all the areas that I
have addressed recently.
There are many career opportunities in the health sciences and our
province still needs expertise in numerous other fields. As a
government we are funding various learners in these fields of
scarce skills. We challenge you to pass your matric well,
preferably in higher grade and you will have an opportunity to
study further.
It is important that we have our local people who will forever
remain committed to work amongst our communities. Without the
people capable of delivering the quality care and services our
people expect we will not be able to get maximum value.
Importantly, the new clinic will provide state of the art medical
technology appropriate to the level of service required. Access
times to the two facilities we are building in this district will
also be extended.
Our people shall according to vision 2014 be provided with 24 hour
access to primary health care. The two new clinics for which we are
turning sods and the new regional hospital in De Aar will improve
our district health system.
As a government we remain committed to taking services and
development to our people. We further believe that the destiny of
our people is in their own hands. Hence the freedom charter states
“the people shall govern.”
As a people we also have a role to play to improve our health; if
we live safely and responsibly we will also alleviate the pressure
on government’s health resources so that it can invest such
resources in the fight against poverty. There is a challenge of the
spread of sexually transmitted disease (STDs). This does not bode
well for our management of the spread of HIV and AIDS. It also does
not bode well for our families and economy because HIV and AIDS are
currently affecting particularly the youth.
Our youth are supposed to be the bread winners and entrepreneurs of
our society but increasingly our elders have to care for the young
and their orphans. We must just remember that there is no cure for
HIV and AIDS. The problems of HIV and AIDS can be resolved if we
change our behaviours. This problem can be resolved if we support
and care about those who are affected and infected so that they may
also live positively.
HIV/AIDS is a social problem that can be managed and at least
arrested if we all support our government and the partnership to
end this scourge.
We want to send out a strong message about sexually transmitted
infections (STIs) as we conclude this month of reproductive health.
We must take good care about our health. Teenage pregnancies and
STIs are a major concern in our communities, it means that people
are not abstaining or at least condomising.
As government we continue to say you must abstain, you must have
one partner and you must use a condom with that one partner when
you decide to have sex. All the older men who abuse teenage girls
must face the consequences of their actions, this is statutory
rape. People in our communities should report these cases to the
police. We said we are now declaring 365 days of no violence
against women and children abuse.
Programme Director
We must also urge our people to take their own health very serious.
We still have instances of pregnant women who present themselves
very late in their pregnancies to our clinics. These kinds of
problems require our collective effort as a community.
There is also the foetal alcohol syndrome which causes physical and
mental deformities in children whose parents drink during
pregnancy. This is particularly common in this district and in
Siyanda.
Many of our people continue to die of Tuberculosis (TB) despite the
fact that it can be cured. This is because people do not take their
medicines when they are supposed to. Again I believe that issues
such as this can be overcome if we act together as
communities.
The new clinic will help us when we are sick but we as individuals
and community can prevent sickness from affecting us. We can also
ensure that when we are sick we get cured. In short we must live
healthy lifestyles.
Last year on 16 June we also launched the healthy lifestyles
campaign here in the province; it encourages us to engage in any
physical activity at least 30 minutes every day. This will keep us
healthier and off hospital beds.
As we build these facilities we leave them in your hands as the
people who must now govern them. You are the people who must pass
them over to future generations who must not bedevilled by problems
that we would have resolved.
Once more I urge you to ensure that during the building phase of
this facility nothing gets stolen, not a single brick. This
facility like many others must be the legacy that your generation,
our people, leave for future generations to admire your
contribution to development.
We will now invite you to witness the sod turning for the new
clinic for the people of Phillips Town. I thank you.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Northern Cape Provincial
Government
28 February 2006
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