Mayor Mashaba extends Princess Clinic’s operating hours

01 November 2016

 

Residents of the Princess Crossing informal settlement in Roodepoort, west of Johannesburg, were on Monday October 31 given increased access to primary healthcare when Johannesburg Executive Mayor Cllr Herman Mashaba announced the extension of the local clinic’s operating hours.

 

In a pilot project aimed at changing the face of primary healthcare in Johannesburg, operating hours at Princess Clinic in the City's Region C have been almost doubled – from eight to 15 a day from Monday to Friday.  The clinic will also open for six hours on Saturdays – from 7am to 1pm.  The staff complement at the clinic – which also serves areas such as Mhlangeni, Lindhaven, Groblerpark and Witpoortjie – has also been increased to cater for the extension.

 

In his address, Mayor Mashaba said the extended hours would mainly cater for residents who were unable to visit the clinic during working hours.  “Clinics in informal settlements are faced with a myriad of challenges. The Princess Clinic epitomises those challenges and was in desperate need of attention. I strongly believe that clinics are well placed to play a crucial role in the delivery of healthcare. They have a vital role to play in contributing positively to a healthy workforce, which drives local economic activity,” said Cllr Mashaba.

 

He said in addition to the extended operating hours, the clinic would provide improved and dedicated social work services.  “Social work services were provided once a week. A dedicated social worker will work from 11am to 7pm. The focus will be on providing physco-social support, skills development, food security, early childhood development, youth development programmes and drug abuse prevention,” Cllr Mashaba said.  He said he had visited the Princess Crossing community several times in the past.   He said the “disgraceful conditions" under which people lived broke his heart.

 

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development Cllr Mpho Phalatse said the extension of the operating hours at the clinic would make a significant contribution to ensuring a healthy citizenry.  “This pilot project will change the face of healthcare in this community. The City is committed to service delivery. We’re breaking down silos and boundaries in the healthcare system. We’re making it easier for our medical practitioners to work. We want to see the conditions of people of Princess Crossing improve. The community must take ownership of health issues. The journey begins now,” said MMC Phalatse.

 

Tumelo Phoma, the clinic's Operations Manager, said the staff was grateful for the support it was getting from the City. 

“There will be two shifts from now on. This means we’re now going to provide services to patients who couldn’t come to our facility during working hours,” said Phoma.