A new R24 million clinic for Napier

The construction of a R24 million Western Cape Department of Health clinic in Napier to replace existing facilities has commenced. Commissioned by the Department of Transport and Public Works, the clinic is expected to have been completed by the end of 2017. A sod-turning ceremony took place at the site today (4 May 2016).

Once it is open, the new Napier Clinic will provide a range of primary healthcare (PHC) services including women’s health, child health, mental health, oral health and rehabilitation services, as well as infectious disease treatment, and curative and chronic care.

The facility will be easily accessible to people with disabilities. Features include separate consultation rooms, wound care and treatment rooms, as well as areas for the treatment of infectious diseases. The clinic will also have a covered outdoor waiting area with built-in seating as well as a play area for children. The indoor waiting area will have an open plan design that includes a pharmacy area, reception area, help desk, and administration offices.

The people of the town have always been active in seeking quality PHC services. Forty years ago, a mobile service visited once a week. By 2003, the needs had grown so much that the Napier Clinic was established. It soon became apparent that the clinic was too small to offer adequate healthcare services that respected the needs and privacy of all its clients. When the Department of Health took over the clinic in 2006, it procured two prefabricated structures to alleviate the pressure.

The population of the town has tripled over the last 30 years, and there has been a steady increase in its primary healthcare (PHC) needs. The new Napier Clinic will meet current needs, and it has been designed in such a way that it can be extended to keep pace with the future needs of the local community.