South Africa : Reduced queues, improved maternal health among GPG achievements

By Gabi Khumalo

Johannesburg - The Chronic Medication Distribution Project, which was launched to reduce long queues at clinics and improve maternal and child health, are amongst the achievements the Gauteng Provincial Government can boast about.

This is according to MEC for Health Brian Hlongwa, who on Tuesday reflected on the departments achievements over the past six months.

During a media briefing on Tuesday, the MEC said the project launched in September had seen a decrease in long waits at clinics where patients who suffered from chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes had to go to collect their regular medication.

"Community health workers now distribute chronic medication to patient's homes and monitor their condition," Mr Hlongwa said, adding that this project would be expanding to include the West Rand and Sedibeng in December this year.

He said the department had focused its energies and resources on improving maternal and child health because successful interventions at this level would have a ripple effect on the general health profile of the population.

The provincial immunisation coverage of children under the age of one year is at about 93 percent due to the kangaroo Mother Care Units, and 98 percent of facilities have maternity services to reduces the peri-natal mortality rates.

"More and more facilities have introduced the Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses Programme to ensure the survival of children under the age of six," said Mr Hlongwa, adding that screening for cervical and breast cancer as well as testing men over the age of 50 for prostate and testicular cancer have also been stepped up.

While Tuberculosis remains a serious health concern in Gauteng, Mr Hlongwa said the department was making measurable progress in educating the public that early diagnosis and treatment was vital.
Patients are also realising that they can be fully cured if they follow the treatment.

"The overall TB cure rate has shown a remarkable improvement from 58 percent in 2004 to 75 percent in 2007/08," Mr Hlongwa said, adding that the Directly Observed Treatment that supports 90 percent of patients on TB programmes was also yielding results.

The HIV and AIDS programme continued to occupy a central position in the departments' activities with the Comprehensive Care, Management and Treatment programmes were now being implemented at 100 percent of provincial hospitals.

The success of the programme includes ensuring 142 846 people are currently on Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) - 12 956 are children. Sixty five facilities, including hospitals and clinics, offer the treatment while all public health facilities offer Voluntary Counselling and Testing.

Mr Hlongwa said the department continued to implement Multi-Therapy for Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV in all facilities, which offer ante-natal care services with the number of patients treated for sexually transmitted diseases decreased from 321 337 in 2006/07 to 237 051 in 2007/08.

"We have completed a number of infrastructure projects such as the new theatres at Kalafong, two new wards at Weskoppies and oncology [cancer] units at the newly renamed Charlotte Maxeke and Steve Biko Academic Hospitals.

"Work is continuing on the new Natalspruit, Mamelodi and Zola Hospitals, about 98 percent of the people of Gauteng now reside within a 5km radius of a hospital, clinic or medical facility," he said.

He further said the department was mindful of the pivotal role that health services play in the government's broader vision to improve quality of life of all people.

In the provincial objectives as set out in the Vision 2014 and in the movement towards the establishment of a Gauteng Global City Region, he said. - BuaNews