Address by Honourable Premier R.M.. Mtshweni-Tsipane on the occasion of the official handover of Sinqobile Clinic in Vosman, eMalahleni Local Municipality

06 October 2022

1. Programme Director, it is indeed an honour and a privilege to join you all in this important event, to handover officially, this state –of- the -art clinic to the local community of Sinqobile, here in Vosman and the surroundings.


2. It is on such an occasion that I am reminded of Arlen Specter’s observation about health, in which he states the following: “There is nothing more important than our good health, that’s our principal capital asset,”.


3. I find a correlation between this message and the name of this place, Sinqobile. Kusho ukuthi, abahlali base-Sinqobile, banqobile ngokuthola le-Clinic ezobenza baphile kahle.


4. As we hand over this clinic, we wish to extend our deep appreciation to Trans-Alloys for the generous investment to the health asset of this local community.


5. Of the key priorities of this ANC led government, is quality healthcare. This clinic is an answer to the question of quality healthcare that this administration seeks to address.


6. The provision of efficient primary health care services and the eradication of infrastructural backlogs within the healthcare sector remains a priority for this Administration.


7. Our approach to healthcare is inspired by the words of our revered global icon, uTata Nelson Mandela who said and I quote: “Access to healthcare cannot be a question of income, it is a fundamental human right” closed quote.


8. The intervention by Trans-Alloys, recognizes that the responsibility to provide quality healthcare must not only rest with Government.


9. It is a culmination of what uTata had envisioned as early as 1994, of a coordinated and integrated collaboration between governments at all levels, civil society formations and the private sector to birth what we now coin the District Delivery Model championed by His Excellency, President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa.


10. To this effect, we are encouraged by the cooperation between the Department of Health and TransAlloys that ultimately birthed the clinic we are proud to handover today.


11. I was pleased to learn that this new clinic will operate 8 hours a day and 5 days a week and gradually move towards operating on a 24 hour basis.


12. The clinic will serve a catchment area of roughly 50 000 people annually and be equipped with facilities that will enable the treatment of, amongst others ;
    
    
    1. Emergency care services;
    2. Sexual and reproductive health care services;
    3. Management of chronic conditions;
    4. Integrated management of childhood illnesses
    5. Mental health care services ; and
    6. Antenatal and post-natal care services.
13. The clinic also houses a dispensary room as well as a pharmaceutical store room. I am certain that the Provincial Department of Health will ensure that the facility has the required volumes of medication at any given time to meet the needs of our people and preserve their right to health care services.


14. Programme Director, I am of the firm belief that health and wellness are essential indicators of our work to build a sustainable Province that responds to the needs of its people.


15. As such, we must appreciate the fact that clinics contribute immensely to a healthy community. A healthy community births a healthy workforce which ultimately results in an increase in local economic activity.


16. I urge the healthcare practitioners stationed at this state of the art clinic to be acutely aware of the significant role they play in our society.


17. The reason why the healthcare sector is often referred to as a calling, and not merely a profession, is because it takes a special cohort of our community to commit themselves to caring for the most vulnerable of our people.


18. Yes, we know that we must and we shall do more to improve your overall working conditions, however I urge you all to focus on the immediate task, which is to care for our communities and treat them with respect, compassion and kindness.


19. Let the execution of your work be underpinned by the Batho Pele principles and the desire to preserve the dignity of our people at all times.


20. Programme Director, it will remiss of me not to urge the people of Vosman to protect this property.


21. Kufanele kube yini enisukumayo, nivikele lomthola-mphilo. Kuzoba yihlazo uma kuba nabantu abaphula izivalo, bangene ngaphakathi, bajonje imishanguzi, nibe nibabhekile.


22. Kuzoba ihlazo elikhulu, uma kuzongena abantu, baphethe izibhamu, bafune ukubulala abahlengikazi nezigulane, nibe nibabhekile.


23. Kusukela manje, sonkhe masibe ngamaphoyisa ase-Sinqobile Clinic.


24. Let us jealously guard and protect this clinic from those who harbour criminal intentions within our communities.


25. Programme Director, as I conclude, I wish to once again extend my gratitude to TransAlloys for this R11 million investment for the benefit our people.


26. You have not only invested in the community of Vosman, you have invested in the future of the Emalahleni Local Municipality and the Province.


27. Programme Director, I would also like to extend my warm appreciation to the Department of Health led by MEC Manzini and Acting HOD Mdluli for accelerating our people’s access to healthcare facilities.


28. Ngiyabonga.

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