Report of the Select Committee on Social Services on its oversight visit
to Princess Mandisa Health Care Centre,
1.
Introduction
The Select Committee on Social
Services undertook an oversight visit to two (2) health centres
as well as one (1) hospital revitalisation programme in Nongoma,
Kwazulu -
Delegation
The
committee consisted of a Multi-Party delegation led by Hon. R N Rasmeni (Chairperson, ANC, North West), Hon.M W Makgate
(ANC, North West), Hon. M J R de Villiers (DA, Western Cape), Hon. M L Moshodi
(ANC, Free State), Hon. W F Faber (DA, Northern Cape), Hon. T A Mashamaite
(ANC, Limpopo), Hon. M G Boroto (ANC, Mpumalanga), Hon. D Z Rantho (ANC,
Eastern Cape) and Hon. Prince M M M Zulu (IFP, Kwazulu - Natal).
The
following officials accompanied the delegation:
Ms. M Williams, Committee Secretary,
Mr. M Dlanga, Committee Secretary and Ms. C Adams, Committee Assistant.
2.
Activities and Proceedings
The Committee interacted with the
officials from the Health centre and hospitals. The Committee was then briefed
on the challenges facing these hospitals and the health centre. The main issues
that took the centre stage in the meetings were the challenges faced, such as
lack of water, electricity, roads, infrastructure, staff and resources.
3. Princess Mandisi Health Care Centre [Ulundi]
The
Committee
was informed that the establishment of the centre was triggered by the
increasing rate of orphans in the area. Services
offered include voluntary counselling and testing, health education,
mentorship, food gardening and adult basic education and training as well as a
ground breaker programme, which is a programme similar to mentorship.
The Committee identified the following challenges:
►a
vacant post for a professional nurse exists because of insufficient funds to
fill the post.
►After
testing patients for HIV/ AIDS and TB, counselling is given then patients are
referred to surrounding hospitals for treatment. ARVs are not administered at
the centre, due to the unavailability of a professional nurse.
►the
municipality has donated seedlings with the aim of starting a food garden to
assist in supporting the centre financially. These vegetables are sold as an
income for the centre.
►The
centre receives no funding, however sponsors are being approached.
Recommendations
Ø
The Department of Health and Social
Development should be approached to assist with funding initiatives.
Ø
The Department of Health should
assist by making resources available in terms of training, human resource and
medicines.
Ø
The centre should aim to strengthen
campaigns and initiatives.
Ø
The centre should register as an NGO
with the relevant Department as soon as possible.
Ø
The Department of Health should fill
the vacant nursing posts that exist.
4.
The
Committee was informed that services offered include gynaecological, mental
health, occupational health, rehabilitation, casualty, surgery, paediatrics,
forensics as well as out patient services. Support services include anaesthetics,
theatre and radiology. Also, pharmacy, laboratory, blood bank and dental clinic
services.
The Committee identified the following challenges:
►There are no available hospitals in the district, thus there is a
high demand placed on Benedictine hospital.
► Sanitation
is a big threat due to the lack of running water.
►Electricity
is scarce and unreliable.
►Roads
are in a very bad condition.
►Due
to the low employment rate, poverty is a disturbing factor.
►HIV and TB infections are high as well as meningitis, as is herbal
infections in adults due to communities treating themselves with herbs before
seeking medical attention.
►High
rates of gastro and herbal intoxication by children.
►The
outpatient head count is extremely high.
Recommendations
Ø
The Provincial and National
Governments should be requested to intervene with regards to water supply and
assist by erecting green water tanks.
Ø
Service delivery must be addressed, for
example, the empty reservoir at the hospital and the turning off of the water
supply by the municipality, mostly during the evenings.
Ø
There should be an integration of
service delivery plans at all spheres of government.
Ø
The Department of Health should
consult with traditional leaders with regards to service delivery issues.
5.
The
Committee was informed that the hospital revitalisation programme has four
components to it. These include infrastructure, health technology, equipment
and furniture, organizational development and quality assurance.
Furthermore,
the Committee was informed that the hospital was undergoing revitalisation in 2
phases. Phase 1 includes doctors’ accommodation, housing for nurses, a pathology
laboratory, recreational facilities, refurbishments of the sterilisation
department and a guard house. Also, the conversion of the boiler house to a
laundromat, the relocation of the mortuary and miscellaneous demolitions.
Upgrades of female and male wards are
also included. This culminates in a revamp at a cost of R113 million.
Phase 2 is
fully designed, documented and ready to go to tender. It comprises a pharmacy,
X-ray department, medical, surgical and maternity wards, theatres, laundry and
a mortuary. Currently phase two was put on hold because of other projects
taking priority. The estimated total cost is calculated at R775 million.
The Committee identified the following challenges:
►The
supply of water is a continuous problem at the hospital.
►The water
pipeline will only reach completion within the next two years.
►The entire
process of tendering, planning, construction and finalization of projects
at the hospitals various stages is time consuming.
►The hospital is dilapidated and in a very bad condition,
structures could collapse at any day more especially the OPD and pharmacy.
Recommendations
Ø
The Committee reiterated the words uttered
by the President of South Africa that the project management team should work
faster, harder and smarter as the hospital is a necessity in this location.
Ø
The HOD present at the meeting
should raise and present these problems to the MEC and consider
reprioritisation of the hospital.
6.
Conclusion
The visits to the health centres as
well as the hospital revitalisation programme in Nongoma provided the Committee
with an overview of the challenges faced by these centres/ hospitals. The
Committee commended the staff at the various centres for their inputs and
agreed that theses challenges will be addressed with the relevant departments.
Report to be considered