Question NW376 to the Minister of Health
07 March 2024 - NW376
Mohlala, Ms MR to ask the Minister of Health
What are the full, relevant details of the plan that his department has put in place to address the compromised health services in Kimberley, Northern Cape, particularly the (a) reliance on domestic water storage tanks or JoJo tanks for water supply, (b) clinic closures and (c) increased cases of diarrhoea?
Reply:
a) The National Department of Health requirements is that each facility should have clean running water. All clinics that are constructed in the Northen Cape province, particularly around Kimberley are having water, and also provided with back up water system through boreholes. Most of the old facilities are getting water from municipalities and those that don’t have borehole are prioritised in 2024/25 to get back up water.
b) No clinics have been closed as a result of poor water supply or quality.
c) Provision of water is the competency of municipalities, the Department interacts with other departments like Water and Sanitation and municipalities to ensure that communities have access to safe clean water. The challenges of unsafe water negatively impact on the health of communities. Random samples are taken to check safety of water at laboratories if there is a sudden increase of diarrhoea cases at certain areas as a precautionary measure.
The tap water in Carnavon was tested and results were positive faecal organisms and therefore not fit for human consumption. Information from District Health Information System (DHIS) for Carnavon CHC and Carnavon clinic for the past six month showed only 1 new case of diarrhoea reported. The matter is dealt with Water and Sanitation Department and outbreak response team has been activated for health education in the community.
END.