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Government & Municipal News
20 November 2020

Community of Bethanie receives R30 million state of the art clinic

The community of Bethanie near Brits now receives comprehensive healthcare services including dental services at their door step. Glencore, a mining company operating in the North West 
Province has handed over a newly built Clinic to the Department of Health. During the handing over ceremony in July 2020 which was attended by Premier Prof Job Mokgoro (virtually), Health MEC Madoda Sambatha, Social Development MEC Boitumelo Moiloa, and Arts and Culture MEC Virginia Thlapi, Glencore Chief Executive Jappie Fullard said communities in the North West have hosted mining companies for years hence his company decisively embraced this shared responsibility with Government.


“We are extremely proud to handover Bethanie Clinic to the North West Department of Health as we are assured that members of the community will receive the necessary and adequate healthcare services during this COVID-19 crisis and well beyond the pandemic,” he said.


Built at the cost of about R30 million, the clinic has increased the number and size of consulting rooms and waiting areas thus enabling more community members to be served eliminating any need to wait for service outside the clinic. Sixteen Nurses, two Doctors, Midwife and Dentist have been appointed to work at the clinic. The services rendered at the clinic include treating communicable and none 
communicable diseases, emergency cases, family planning, Tuberculosis, maternal and child health, minor ailments and chronic illnesses among others. 


The mining company has donated furniture, medical and dental equipment including dentist chair. The company has also committed to maintain the clinic infrastructure, garden, and payment of electricity.
Bethanie resident Themba Ntlheng (50)

has welcomed the new development in his community.
“The clinic is now bigger and can accommodate more people unlike before where it would be overcrowded and people queuing outside which was a problem especially during rainy, cold and very hot weather conditions' 
he said.


The clinic has extended operating hours from eight to 12. Ntlheng said he wishes the clinic can operate for 24 hours, which is something the management of North West Health is considering.
MEC Sambatha conveyed gratitude from the Department of Health for the fully equipped clinic.
“The clinic comes at a crucial time as COVID-19 cases increase in the Province and members of the community need a healthcare facility where they can be tested. The handover of Bethanie clinic at this time is critical as it will intensify COVID-19 screening. Bethanie clinic is already one of the best in the Province because of its Gold status in terms of ideal clinic. Bethanie clinic is “National Health Insurance” (NHI) ready in response to COVID-19 and also meets the community's needs for a facility that holistically caters to their healthcare needs,” he said. 

MEC Madoda Sambatha and Glencore CEO Jappie Fullard during the official unveiling of Bethanie Clinic

New forensic pathology unit opens in Brits as part of COVID-19 preparedness

Deputy health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla officially opened a newly built forensic pathology unit in Brits as part of North West province ' spreparedness for the coronavirus pandemic. The construction of forensic pathology unit and equipment was entirely funded by the mining company, Sibanye Stillwater to the tune of R24 million as part of its social responsible programme.

The forensic pathology unit has a body storage capacity of 117, three cold rooms, 40 shelves for decomposed bodies and 60 for fresh ones. It also houses a seminar room and teaching room, a data management room, offices for pathologists and a room for imaging bodies. Speaking at the opening ceremony on 4 June 2020, Dr Phaahla said the forensic pathology unit is part of the province's infrastructure preparedness.

“ Thehospitalshave arrangement with private mortuaries for additional capacity. There is also provincial standard operating procedures that directs management of human remains of covid-19,” he said.The forensic pathology unit came at the right time when the province was putting in place all the necessary infrastructure resources to manage COVID-19. The centre is correctly located at Bojanala District which is the epicentre of Covid-19 in the province.

Speaking on behalf of the Provincial Command Council, MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha said that municipalities have investigated grave capacities in line with COVID-19 worst case scenarios and the lists of graves have been submitted to the Provincial Disaster Management Centre. New sites for graveyards have also been identified. The province has thus far recorded more than 500 COVID-19 related deaths.

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Invoice tracking rolled to two districts

The Department of Health on 23 anuary 2020 launched the “Smartgov eSubmission Invoice Tracking System” efectively making procurement services electronic. 

The introduction of the invoice tracking system aims to ensure that service providers submit invoices online, track progress all the time, respond online, access on the move and get payment within 30 days.

The system has been running since March 2020 and 9 people were appointed on contract to specifically work on the system.

The system has been extended to Dr Kenneth Kaunda and Ngaka Modiri Molema districts. Plans are underway to implement the system in Bojanala and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati districts.

Installation of 2 new boilers at MPH.

Two new steam boilers have been at Mahikeng Provincial Hospital. The two boilers will replace the old ones, which has proven to be unreliable for a longest time due to obsolescence.  

The installation of a new boiler forms part of a commitment made by MEC for Health Madoda Sambatha following his appointment in 2018 to unblock all service delivery challenges and backlogs.
The new boilers will provide steam and improve the following services: 

  1. Cooking with large steam pots and steam cookers in the central kitchen of the Hospital.
  2. Heating water for all warm water needs.
  3. Laundry services, including washing machines and steam ironing presses.
  4. Autoclaves for instruments.

Health department fills critical posts

Human Resources for health is one of the key pillars to ensure delivery of quality health services to the people.

A total of 2071 people have been employed in the Department of Health since April 2020 to date. The number includes doctors , nurses, emergency and rescue personnel and support staff.
The total number of new employees is in addition to the 3330 posts which were filled in the previous financial year. 

 Some of the posts were filled by bursary holders as part of retaining those that the Department has invested in. Meanwhile Interns and community service officials are captured on the Intern and Community Service Placement Service (ICSPS) which is updated every year. The two categories are given an opportunity to apply for advertised posts after completion of their community service. The department has engaged the National School of Governance to assist with developing a tailor m a d e orientation package forthe employees of the Department of Health. As part of job creation, the Department through the office of the premier engaged the Safety and Security SETA and National Skills Fund to request funding and approval of security learnership for unemployed youth. This resulted in 695 learners being placed on a three-month Learnership programme which lapsed by end of April 2020.

Acting Chief Director Mr Kitso Mmolawa, MEC Madoda Sambatha, Administrator Ms Jeanette Hunter and Hospital Board Chairperson Mr Khumalo Molefe during the handover of the new boiler.



Nine new forensic pathology vehicles dispatched. 

The North West Health MEC Madoda TSambatha officially handed overnine(9)  forensic pathology vehicles to the four districts of the province as part of capacitating the forensic pathology services. The handover ceremony of nine(9) branded and ready to serve bakkies were held at Bophelo Clinic in Rulaganyang, Maquassi Hills Local Municipality. With the additional of 9 bakkies, the province now has a total of 26 operational bakkies.

The vehicles come at a time when there is a dire shortage of forensic vehicles in the province and will immediately be dispatched for service. 
 

Nine newly procured Forensic Pathology Bakkies.

 

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