Date: 23/03/2005
Source: Ministry of Health
Title: Tshabalala-Msimang: Launch of projects supported through Italian Cooperation
Speech by the Minister of Health, Dr M Tshabalala-Msimang, at the launch of the projects supported through the Italian Cooperation
His Excellency Ambassador Valerio Augusto Astraldi
Head of the Italian Istituto Superiore de Sanita (ISS)
Technical Assistants from Italy
Officials from the Department of Health
Ladies and Gentlemen.
One of the challenges that confronted our government over the past ten years of our democracy was the process of reforming the health system. This included the creation of a single, unified national health system and strengthening institutional capacity at national, provincial and district levels.
The Italian Cooperation has assisted us immensely in tackling some of these challenges. Italian cooperation supported us to strengthen our information systems, our Primary Health Care Programme and the expansion of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses programme.
Central to our achievements over the last decade is the progress made towards the development of a District Health Information System (DHIS). We are building on this achievement within our national health information system and our efforts now include the development of the Patient Information System (PIS) based on the Patient Master Index.
Honourable Ambassador, let me take this opportunity to commend the Italian Government for supporting the three projects that have recently been completed.
The projects were aimed at providing:
* Support to the Health Information Management in Gauteng to the value of R15 million
* Multisectoral Support to Primary Health Care in KZN valued at R15 million
* As well as R6 million support to UNICEF’s Integrated Management of Child illnesses (IMCI) programme in four provinces
The project that supported Health Information Management in Gauteng has set a trend for the country to advance in the development of the information systems and the use of this information in implementing health interventions. Hence the Gauteng Department of Health has requested an extension of the support in this area. We really appreciate your support in this regard.
Honourable Ambassador, we are gathered here today to launch another set of projects supported by the Italian Cooperation. The four projects we are launching today are:
* Support to the National and Provincial Health Departments and capacity building in health management and health information systems. This project is a follow-up to the positive outcomes of a similar project implemented in Gauteng Province. The project will receive funding of R27 million over a three-year period
* Technical assistance will be provided to Health Managers at national level in order to plan and manage health programmes based on good quality and relevant information. This project will also improve donor coordination and donor funding management at national and provincial level
* At provincial level, the project will strengthen the DHIS reporting systems, the Geographical Information System, the forensic medicine and neonatal information system for hospitals
* In Mpumalanga Province in particular, the project will focus on the Communicable Disease reporting system and on malaria surveillance system.
The second project will provide support to Strategic Planning in Health at National level with a funding of about R26 million. This project aims to support the Department of Health to strengthen its strategic planning and policy co-ordination functions. Amongst others things, this project will provide expertise and systems for strengthening health sector planning and provide support the development of regulations under National Health Act of 2003 – a critical piece of legislation in the development of the national health system for South Africa.
The project will also assist in assessing the utilisation of our hospitals and resource allocation within the health sector.
The third project is aimed at providing support to Health Planning capacity in KwaZulu-Natal Province with a funding of R17 Million. While covering the whole province, this project will also focus on strengthening health planning capacity within the Umzinyathi District, which is one of the most impoverished rural areas identified by the President as nodal points for rural development. This project will also cover the construction of a Community Health Centre in this district.
The last project will provide support to Mother and Child Care and the Development of the health information systems in KwaZulu-Natal with the funding of R9 million over a three-year period. This project is an extension of the initial Italian Co-operation funded Integrated Management of Child illnesses (IMCI) project with a stronger emphasis on the development of managerial skills and the use of information for action.
Honourable Ambassador, the four projects we are launching today with a total value of R79 million are a major contribution to the realisation of our goal of a better life for all. I am sure that like the previous three project, this initiative add a lot of value in improving information systems and planning capacity within the Department of Health.
We need to make sure that there is clear evidence of skills transfer between Italian technical assistants and our officials working on these projects at provincial and national level. We need to also develop plans to ensure sustainability of these projects at the end of the funding period.
Honourable Ambassador, let me end by saying that the success achieved through cooperation with the Italian government should be an example the great health benefits that can come out of mutual cooperation in strengthening the health systems in our countries.
Thank you.
Issued by: Ministry of Health
Source: Department of Health (http://www.doh.gov.za)
23 March 2005
Source: Ministry of Health
Title: Tshabalala-Msimang: Launch of projects supported through Italian Cooperation
Speech by the Minister of Health, Dr M Tshabalala-Msimang, at the launch of the projects supported through the Italian Cooperation
His Excellency Ambassador Valerio Augusto Astraldi
Head of the Italian Istituto Superiore de Sanita (ISS)
Technical Assistants from Italy
Officials from the Department of Health
Ladies and Gentlemen.
One of the challenges that confronted our government over the past ten years of our democracy was the process of reforming the health system. This included the creation of a single, unified national health system and strengthening institutional capacity at national, provincial and district levels.
The Italian Cooperation has assisted us immensely in tackling some of these challenges. Italian cooperation supported us to strengthen our information systems, our Primary Health Care Programme and the expansion of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses programme.
Central to our achievements over the last decade is the progress made towards the development of a District Health Information System (DHIS). We are building on this achievement within our national health information system and our efforts now include the development of the Patient Information System (PIS) based on the Patient Master Index.
Honourable Ambassador, let me take this opportunity to commend the Italian Government for supporting the three projects that have recently been completed.
The projects were aimed at providing:
* Support to the Health Information Management in Gauteng to the value of R15 million
* Multisectoral Support to Primary Health Care in KZN valued at R15 million
* As well as R6 million support to UNICEF’s Integrated Management of Child illnesses (IMCI) programme in four provinces
The project that supported Health Information Management in Gauteng has set a trend for the country to advance in the development of the information systems and the use of this information in implementing health interventions. Hence the Gauteng Department of Health has requested an extension of the support in this area. We really appreciate your support in this regard.
Honourable Ambassador, we are gathered here today to launch another set of projects supported by the Italian Cooperation. The four projects we are launching today are:
* Support to the National and Provincial Health Departments and capacity building in health management and health information systems. This project is a follow-up to the positive outcomes of a similar project implemented in Gauteng Province. The project will receive funding of R27 million over a three-year period
* Technical assistance will be provided to Health Managers at national level in order to plan and manage health programmes based on good quality and relevant information. This project will also improve donor coordination and donor funding management at national and provincial level
* At provincial level, the project will strengthen the DHIS reporting systems, the Geographical Information System, the forensic medicine and neonatal information system for hospitals
* In Mpumalanga Province in particular, the project will focus on the Communicable Disease reporting system and on malaria surveillance system.
The second project will provide support to Strategic Planning in Health at National level with a funding of about R26 million. This project aims to support the Department of Health to strengthen its strategic planning and policy co-ordination functions. Amongst others things, this project will provide expertise and systems for strengthening health sector planning and provide support the development of regulations under National Health Act of 2003 – a critical piece of legislation in the development of the national health system for South Africa.
The project will also assist in assessing the utilisation of our hospitals and resource allocation within the health sector.
The third project is aimed at providing support to Health Planning capacity in KwaZulu-Natal Province with a funding of R17 Million. While covering the whole province, this project will also focus on strengthening health planning capacity within the Umzinyathi District, which is one of the most impoverished rural areas identified by the President as nodal points for rural development. This project will also cover the construction of a Community Health Centre in this district.
The last project will provide support to Mother and Child Care and the Development of the health information systems in KwaZulu-Natal with the funding of R9 million over a three-year period. This project is an extension of the initial Italian Co-operation funded Integrated Management of Child illnesses (IMCI) project with a stronger emphasis on the development of managerial skills and the use of information for action.
Honourable Ambassador, the four projects we are launching today with a total value of R79 million are a major contribution to the realisation of our goal of a better life for all. I am sure that like the previous three project, this initiative add a lot of value in improving information systems and planning capacity within the Department of Health.
We need to make sure that there is clear evidence of skills transfer between Italian technical assistants and our officials working on these projects at provincial and national level. We need to also develop plans to ensure sustainability of these projects at the end of the funding period.
Honourable Ambassador, let me end by saying that the success achieved through cooperation with the Italian government should be an example the great health benefits that can come out of mutual cooperation in strengthening the health systems in our countries.
Thank you.
Issued by: Ministry of Health
Source: Department of Health (http://www.doh.gov.za)
23 March 2005
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