Speech by the Minister of Health M Tshabalala-Msimang at the Inauguration of the first FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence in Africa

Programme Director
My Colleagues, Health MECs present
Honourable Mayor
FIFA Officials
South African Local Organising Committee Members
South African Football Association members
Government officials
University staff

I am honoured to be here at this very important inauguration of the first FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence. This is a proud moment not only for the University of Witwatersrand, but for South Africa and Africa as a whole. Since the inaugural South African Sports Medicine Congress in 1985, the Sports Medicine sector is gaining momentum within South Africa.

There are currently a "handful" of doctors who have chosen to dedicate their efforts to ensuring our local sports people receive the most proficient and scientifically based medical treatment regimes in order for them to not only perform at optimal levels within their respective sporting codes but to recover timeously from injuries sustained.

Over the next few years, the demand on Sports Medicine for South African Professional and amateur sportspeople alike will increase considerably. Tertiary institutions such as the Witwatersrand University have recognised the value of Sports Medicine. The Centre for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine will indeed enhance medical professionals within the Sports Medicine sector.

South Africa is proud to host the FIFA 2010 World Cup. As this will be the first time that Africa will be hosting such a prestigious event, it is therefore opportune that this centre is being inaugurated as it will provide medical services from a football medical perspective and enhance a Sports Medicine culture that will directly benefit historically disadvantaged young players.
Furthermore, this programme and exposure will encourage active sports participation by the youth and will therefore promote health and well-being which is in line with the Department of Health's promotion of healthy lifestyles campaign.

I am pleased to report that there has been a lot of progress within the health sector in pursuing our responsibilities in terms of health services for the 2010 World Cup. We have established a Health Technical Task Team which continues to operate as a multi-sectoral steering committee, managing the planning for the health sector. At least 15 specialist work groups are in the process of finalising health sector plans for the health master plan. It is important that this Centre participates in the activities of this task team to enhance its work.

I am further pleased to report on several milestones which will lead towards an increased capability within the health sector to manage the various responsibilities that we are faced with in relation to the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

During the 2007/08 financial year, provincial health departments procured 563 ambulances, established three new state of the art communications centres and implemented an additional two contracted aero-medical services. In order to facilitate the procurement process we established national tenders for medical equipment, medical rescue equipment, uniforms and emergency vehicles. An aero-medical national tender is in the final stages of being implemented.
With regards to training, a comprehensive programme has been initiated to improve the capacity of provincial Emergency Care Colleges, as well as the creation of professional degree and mid-level worker qualifications to enhance the clinical competencies of emergency medical services personnel.

In addition, the department has implemented a programme for pre- and in-hospital training which includes disaster medicine, introduction of the new SA Triage Score and dealing with victims of criminal and sexual assault. Multi-sectoral training has also been implemented in the area of biochemical, nuclear and radiological defence in order to ensure that all the role players involved in these areas are exposed to a cohesive and integrated training programme.

We have also contributed extensively towards the establishment and improvement of spectator medical centres and medical posts for spectators, players and officials, VIP and the media and the doping control areas. Comprehensive lists have been developed on the drug, surgical sundries and medical equipment requirements, and this will soon be complimented with concise personnel deployment profiles for each stadium, Fan Park and public viewing area.

We have already shown our ability to co-ordinate medical services by our performance in 2010 FIFA World Cup Preliminary Draw. The planning and provision of health and medical services for the Preliminary Draw was successful, with no major incidents recorded.

Programme Director, as we move towards 2010, we will move from strength to strength, as is obvious from the progress we have made so far. It is also important that we address the academic integrity of sports medicine to fulfil the honour that has been bestowed on us by FIFA. You have the support of the Department of Health in achieving this speciality status with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) of South Africa.

This centre is another example of the progress we are making. It is important to note that FIFA has accepted this Centre for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine at the Witwatersrand University as one of only six official Sports Medicine centres worldwide and the first of its kind in Africa. This centre will ensure that our sportspeople receive world class care in the prevention, diagnosis, management and rehabilitation of sports related injuries.

May I take this opportunity to thank FIFA, the South African Sporting Bodies and the Witwatersrand University for ensuring a world-class Sports Medicine Centre aimed at benefiting the health and wellbeing of all our sportspeople and the youth has now been realised. I am honoured to now officially inaugurate this Centre of Excellence

Thank you.

Issued by: Department of Health
31 March 2008