Joy reigns as City opens new clinic
09 December 2015
The days of accessing primary healthcare services at mobile clinics are now a thing of the past for residents of Thulamntwana in Cyferfontein, Kanana Park, in the City of Johannesburg’s Region G.
The City on Tuesday December 8 officially unveiled a state-of-the-art clinic in the area, near Grasmere, in a ceremony attended by several Members of the Mayoral Committee, councillors and senior City officials. The guests included Acting Mayor and MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services Councillor Matshidiso Mfikoe, MMC for Health and Social Development Councillor Nonceba Molwele, MMC for Corporate Governance and Shared Services Councillor Mally Mokoena, ward councillors Paul Molutsi and Shirley Nepfumbada, Regional Director Mickey Padiachee, Deputy Regional Director Hlubi Ntamehlo and Executive Director of Health Dr Refik Bismilla.
The new clinic consists of consultation rooms, an emergency room, a medicines storeroom, stock and linen room, counselling room and a waiting area with an open reception.
Speaking to hundreds of residents who had packed the local community hall, MMC Mfikoe, who was standing in for Executive Mayor Councillor Parks Tau – he is in Paris, France, attending the COP21 summit on climate change – said the City hoped the new clinic would significantly improve the quality of life of the residents of Kanana Park.
She said the City's Health Department was aware of the fact that more still needed to be done to better the lives of people through the delivery of quality healthcare services while the government was preparing for the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI).
“Through the NHI, our people will access free or affordable medical care in many private and public hospitals and clinics. Our goal is to strengthen primary healthcare by significantly reducing the number of mobile clinics and facilitating functional integration and rationalisation of health services," MMC Mfikoe said.
She urged the community to take care of the clinic as it belonged to them.
"Take ownership of the clinic and look after it so that we can offer you healthcare services without unnecessary disruptions such as vandalism and theft,” she said.
MMC Mfikoe also paid tribute to all health workers providing quality healthcare services. Let's all work together, as community members, health workers in order to move our healthcare system forward and change the lives of our people,” she said.
Thulamntwana resident Nomvula Mazibuko, 63, who is diabetic, welcomed the new clinic "with open arms".
“For a long time we didn’t have a decent healthcare facility in this area. Now we have one, right at my doorstep. What more can one ask for? It was worth the wait,” she said.
Services offered at the clinic include treatment of chronic diseases and HIV care, including counselling, testing and provision of antiretroviral drugs to people living with the virus.