Nomzamo Community To Receive New Health Facility

Joint statement by Minister Dr Nomafrench Mbombo and Minister Donald Grant

This morning, Western Cape Ministers of Health and Transport and Public Works Dr. Nomafrench Mbombo and Donald Grant, visited the site of the brand new Nomzamo CDC to inspect the progress on the delivery of this much needed facility in the Strand area. The construction of the facility is a direct response to the growing needs of the population of Nomzamo. The area has grown exponentially over the years and this has created pressure on the facilities that have been serving the area.

“When I took office earlier this year, I made an offer to the people of the Western Cape. I committed to paying close attention to the needs of our clients. Infrastructure development is integral to a patient-centred approach to healthcare. When our facilities have a healthy flow of patients, our healthcare workers operating in a safe and conducive environment, our patients are bound to be happy. This is why a Community Day Centre in Nomzamo has been on top of our priority list,” said Minister Mbombo.

In Nomzamo is a City Of Cape Town-run, Ikwezi Clinic which offers a limited package of services. Helderberg Hospital has been absorbing the access flow of patients who need comprehensive care much to the facility’s detriment. “This is why this community day centre will go a long way in assisting not only the people of this area, but the employees of the two facilities who have been shouldering this pressure,” added Minister Mbombo.

The people of Nomzamo will be receiving a R28 million facility which will be able to see over 5200 patients in a month from Asanda Village and surrounding areas. It will offer a wide range of services including the following units focusing largely on the provision of Primary Health Care services:

•  Women’s Health and Well Baby Unit: providing family planning, antenatal care, baby and child health.
• Chronic Unit: the provision of chronic medication including health visits for ARVs.
• Infectious Disease Wing: Additionally, patients can receive ARV (HIV) treatment, TB screening and treatment and will have an Infectious Diseases Unit, treating infectious cases conveniently located close to the entrance.
• Pharmacy services: Issuing scripts (5200 per month) including pre-packaged chronic medication collection point

The construction of the Nomzamo CDC is being undertaken by the Department of Transport and Public Works, as the implementing agent for the Department of Health’s infrastructure budget.

“Earlier this year I announced that my department, during this budget period, will be managing a budget of R826.28 million, on behalf of the Department of Health, for the building and refurbishing of health facilities. With this budget, we will deliver essential health facilities to communities dealing with a high demand for health facilities across the Western Cape”, said Minister Grant.

“Construction of the new Nomzamo CDC began in November 2013, and is due for completion next month, on schedule and within the allocated budget. The project has produced many noteworthy empowerment milestones, including:

• The training of 10 National Youth Service learners in various construction related fields,
• On-site training in skills such as brick laying and carpentry,
• The employment of 263 labourers on site, including 59 labourers from the local community,
• A total spend of R2.26 million on labour, with approximately a third of that spent on local labour,
• R2.2 million spent on supplies from 70 local enterprises.

“The Western Cape Government is committed to delivering quality health facilities, delivered timeously, in communities that need them the most. Our commitment to giving effect to the 5 Provincial Strategic Goals has led to the development of a departmental vision to lead in the delivery of government infrastructure and related services, and our mission to delivers infrastructure and services to promote socio – economic outcomes and safe, empowered and connected communities. “ said Minister Grant.

“We look forward to finally opening the doors of this facility to the people of Nomzamo. This facility, like many others we build together, is a testament to our continued commitment to delivering on our promise to the people of the Western Cape. This facility will go a long way to realise our goal, Provincial Strategic Goal 3, to increase wellness, safety, and to tackle social ills. Nothing gives us greater pleasure than seeing the commitments we make when we table our budgets in Parliament manifest themselves in very real terms for the people that we service,” added Minister Mbombo.

The new facility is scheduled for completion in June, with the commissioning phase set to be completed by October this year when the facility will be open to receiving patents from the Nomzamo area and surrounds.