Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
PRESS RELEASE FOLLOWING THE MEETING BETWEEN THE GAUTENG DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND IFP/SOWEJOCA
Senior executives of the Department of Health met with a delegation from the IFP/Sowejoca this afternoon. The following understanding was reached:
1. A joint team will investigate and report back on all the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate death of Baby Dixon on Friday 25th.
2. Sowejoca presented a memorandum with a number of proposals for improving the service at Kliptown clinic. These were well received by the Department which will look into the operational implications of the proposals over the next fortnight.
3. Sowejoca will present affidavits around alleged incidents of misconduct, which the Department will formally investigate.
4. The Department will move to strengthen the community committee and its liaison with clinic management.
5. Sowejoca have indicated their full support for the normalisation of the situation and the reopening tomorrow of Kliptown clinic. The Department will brief staff fully on todays discussions and encourage their support of the way forward.
6. The Sowejoca proposal for a wide ranging Commission will be raised with MEC Amos Masondo on his return from Europe.
The Health Department and Sowejoca express their deepest condolences to the Dixon family.
Both parties are agreed that the disruption of services was inappropriate and that services to the community must remain the primary focus while any grievances are attended to. The good work of many of the staff at the clinic and their willingness to work in the community is recognised by both parties.
Issued by: Dr Erich Buch, Deputy Director General, Gauteng Department of Health. Basil Douglas, leader, Sowejoca.
Contact numbers: Gauteng Department of Health: Joanne Collinge 082-574-5510 IFP/Sowejoca: Basil Douglas 838-4127