Date: 22/07/2003
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Van Schalkwyk: Western Cape Government EXTRACT FROM REMARKS BY THE WESTERN CAPE PREMIER, MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK, ADDRESSING COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND HEALTH-CARE WORKERS, Railton Community Hall, Swellendam, 22 July 2003
RURAL HEALTH CARE: A WESTERN CAPE PRIORITY
Quality health-care is the cornerstone of strong and growing communities. As part of our Provincial Government's vision of building the World Class Province, which Cares for all its people, health and health services are amongst our highest priorities. This is particularly true in the rural areas of the Western Cape where many of our communities did not receive the necessary resources and support in the past. Our NNP/ANC Coalition Government of Hope is determined to address these needs, to assist our communities, and to ensure the well-being of our people.
In 1975 the Railton Clinic was built as a health-care centre to be used exclusively by the coloured community of Swellendam - whilst the white community made use of a clinic at the Municipal offices. This changed in 1999 with the closure of the clinic at the municipality and all of the people of this area having to make use of the Railton Clinic - placing great demands on the staff, the resources and the space available.
The scaling back of the old system of District Surgeons also led to more patients making use of the clinic. With nurses having to consult two-to-a-room, with a store-room which needed to double as a pharmacy, and with HIV/AIDS counselling happening in the kitchen it is clear that the people of Railton and Swellendam have needed better facilities for some time. It is therefore a great pleasure for our Provincial Government to present to the Mayor of Swellendam a cheque for R234 400 to be used in the extension and upgrading of the Railton Clinic. Combined with the funding being provided by the Municipality itself, this clinic will soon have the capacity it needs to provide high-quality, comprehensive health-care.
One of the biggest challenges facing our Provincial Government is to stretch the financial and material resources available to us in order to meet the health-care needs of all of our communities. This has been made increasingly difficult by factors like the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS, the alarming increase in TB cases, the levels of migration from other provinces to the Western Cape, and the rising costs of medical equipment and medication. Our coalition government inherited a health system with ageing facilities, out-of-date equipment, staff shortages and in many areas very uneven health-care coverage. Under our Provincial Minister for Health, Piet Meyer, and his department our Government has adopted a plan to address these problems - the plan is HealthCare 2010.
Healthcare 2010 has, as one of its core beliefs, the need to treat patients at the most appropriate level of care. One of the major benefits of HealthCare 2010 is its focus on the best location of health-care facilities in both our metro and rural areas. Our network of primary health facilities comprises 242 permanent clinics, 130 mobile units and 64 community health centres - handling an average of almost 12 000 000 visits annually. By upgrading primary and district care facilities - especially in our rural regions - the load on regional hospitals will be reduced allowing our academic hospitals to focus on the most serious of cases.
In addition to the extension of the Railton Clinic, the Provincial Department of Health is also busy with a number of upgrades and new health-care construction. Another good example is the George Hospital on which R29 million has already been spent, with R50 million more expected to be spent in the next phase of the project. Amongst the other areas in the province which will be benefiting this year are:
Beaufort West: R1,5 million
Caledon Hospital: R1,5 million
Caledon Clinic: R400 000
Ladismith Hospital: R500 000
Mossel Bay Hospital: R1,5 million
Riversdale Hospital: R800 000
Swellendam Hospital: R1,27 million
By far the most valuable asset in health-care in the Western Cape though, is not our facilities, but our people. From the nurses to the doctors to the surgeons and administrators, the people of the Western Cape are served by amongst the most professional and dedicated health-care workers in Africa. It is their skills, patience and energy which will help our Provincial Government to make HealthCare 2010 a reality - and to address the challenges which must be faced to build our World Class Province which Cares for all its People.
Enquiries: Riaan Aucamp on 083-778-9923
Issued by Western Cape Provincial Government
22 July 2003
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Van Schalkwyk: Western Cape Government EXTRACT FROM REMARKS BY THE WESTERN CAPE PREMIER, MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK, ADDRESSING COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND HEALTH-CARE WORKERS, Railton Community Hall, Swellendam, 22 July 2003
RURAL HEALTH CARE: A WESTERN CAPE PRIORITY
Quality health-care is the cornerstone of strong and growing communities. As part of our Provincial Government's vision of building the World Class Province, which Cares for all its people, health and health services are amongst our highest priorities. This is particularly true in the rural areas of the Western Cape where many of our communities did not receive the necessary resources and support in the past. Our NNP/ANC Coalition Government of Hope is determined to address these needs, to assist our communities, and to ensure the well-being of our people.
In 1975 the Railton Clinic was built as a health-care centre to be used exclusively by the coloured community of Swellendam - whilst the white community made use of a clinic at the Municipal offices. This changed in 1999 with the closure of the clinic at the municipality and all of the people of this area having to make use of the Railton Clinic - placing great demands on the staff, the resources and the space available.
The scaling back of the old system of District Surgeons also led to more patients making use of the clinic. With nurses having to consult two-to-a-room, with a store-room which needed to double as a pharmacy, and with HIV/AIDS counselling happening in the kitchen it is clear that the people of Railton and Swellendam have needed better facilities for some time. It is therefore a great pleasure for our Provincial Government to present to the Mayor of Swellendam a cheque for R234 400 to be used in the extension and upgrading of the Railton Clinic. Combined with the funding being provided by the Municipality itself, this clinic will soon have the capacity it needs to provide high-quality, comprehensive health-care.
One of the biggest challenges facing our Provincial Government is to stretch the financial and material resources available to us in order to meet the health-care needs of all of our communities. This has been made increasingly difficult by factors like the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS, the alarming increase in TB cases, the levels of migration from other provinces to the Western Cape, and the rising costs of medical equipment and medication. Our coalition government inherited a health system with ageing facilities, out-of-date equipment, staff shortages and in many areas very uneven health-care coverage. Under our Provincial Minister for Health, Piet Meyer, and his department our Government has adopted a plan to address these problems - the plan is HealthCare 2010.
Healthcare 2010 has, as one of its core beliefs, the need to treat patients at the most appropriate level of care. One of the major benefits of HealthCare 2010 is its focus on the best location of health-care facilities in both our metro and rural areas. Our network of primary health facilities comprises 242 permanent clinics, 130 mobile units and 64 community health centres - handling an average of almost 12 000 000 visits annually. By upgrading primary and district care facilities - especially in our rural regions - the load on regional hospitals will be reduced allowing our academic hospitals to focus on the most serious of cases.
In addition to the extension of the Railton Clinic, the Provincial Department of Health is also busy with a number of upgrades and new health-care construction. Another good example is the George Hospital on which R29 million has already been spent, with R50 million more expected to be spent in the next phase of the project. Amongst the other areas in the province which will be benefiting this year are:
Beaufort West: R1,5 million
Caledon Hospital: R1,5 million
Caledon Clinic: R400 000
Ladismith Hospital: R500 000
Mossel Bay Hospital: R1,5 million
Riversdale Hospital: R800 000
Swellendam Hospital: R1,27 million
By far the most valuable asset in health-care in the Western Cape though, is not our facilities, but our people. From the nurses to the doctors to the surgeons and administrators, the people of the Western Cape are served by amongst the most professional and dedicated health-care workers in Africa. It is their skills, patience and energy which will help our Provincial Government to make HealthCare 2010 a reality - and to address the challenges which must be faced to build our World Class Province which Cares for all its People.
Enquiries: Riaan Aucamp on 083-778-9923
Issued by Western Cape Provincial Government
22 July 2003
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