Official Opening of New Grassy Park Community Day Centre

The new Grassy Park Community Day Centre (CDC) was relocated to a new improved building and was officially re-opened by the Western Cape Minister of Health, Theuns Botha, on 6 March 2012.

Grassy Park Day Hospital was established in 1960 and serviced a small confined community of Grassy Park and the Philippi farm areas. Over the years, this area has expanded to a population of 35 000. From a traditionally middle-class area, it has grown into a community that remains 80% dependent on public health.

The facility is environmentally friendly and has minimal electricity usage and has grown to 20 staff members currently employed.

The facility moved from a very small 40 square metres house and a dilapidated prefab building to a CDC which is ten times bigger. The move took place over three days and opened its doors on 1 December 2011.

Their services were expanded in January 2012 and now include, amongst others, Woman and Child health, TB Clinic and STI Clinic. Its HIV counselling and testing programme increased from 525 clients in 2010 to 1 048 clients in January 2012.

Western Cape Health Minister, Theuns Botha, said: "The facility we are opening today is a R18 million facility constructed over the past two years. It is now expanded to the extent that 20 staff members see approximately 3 500 patients per month."

"In line with Western Cape Government's commitment to construct environment-friendly facilities, the day care centre has been designed for minimal electricity usage."

"In addition, the facility is an example of the department's migration to a primary healthcare information system. In the past, all patient information folders at the old Grassy Park clinic were handwritten and forms were filled in manually. On 6 February 2012, Grassy Park Day Hospital went live. It now has eight computers. It is also connected to GroupWise and National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) data were installed."

"The new facility is based on the urban model providing a comprehensive and integrated package of essential primary healthcare services. It is the gateway facility from where patients will be referred to Lotus River community health centre and Victoria hospital in Wynberg."

Minister Botha called on volunteers to assist to provide a seamless, smooth-running service.

"Here at the Grassy Park Community Day Centre we are now able to provide better health services to the people of Grassy Park. Your responsibility is to take responsibility for your health, prevent disease and take medication on time. In this way, we are better together."

Services rendered at Grassy Park CDC:

• Mental health.
• Dressings.
• Prothrombine Index (PI) Clinic for patients who have had a stroke or any blood-related sicknesses and are now on Warfarin medication for blood count (50 patients currently).
• Stomatherapy patients (15 patients).
• Pap smears has increased from 26 to 45 per month.
• Disability doctor (outreach twice a month).
• Orthopaedic sister (outreach monthly).
• TB screening.
• Chronic dispensing unit.
• Chronic diseases of lifestyle.
• HIV testing and counselling.
• Measure vision - Snellens chart health promotion.
• Assessing cataract status.
• Eye screening.
• Social worker.
• Child health (Baby Clinic as well as sick children).
• Women's health (Family Planning).
• TB Clinic (MDR and XDR).
• Adult and paediatric patients.
• Curative.
• Preventative care.
• Rehabilitative.
• Basic antenatal care.
• Chronic diseases management.