Du Noon Community Health Centre Plans are Progressing Well

The Western Cape Provincial Government's planning for the provision of health facilities for the people of Du Noon is progressing well. The new Du Noon Community Health Centre, which is costing an estimated R80 million, is set for completion in 2014. A site for the proposed Western Sub-District Hospital, close to the Du Noon Community Health Centre, has also been identified.

The site that the Western Cape Provincial Government earmarked for the new Du Noon Community Health Centre is in Potsdam Road, in Killarney Gardens, Milnerton, opposite the Killarney race track, and is approximately 3.5 hectares. The provincial government requested the purchase of this land from national government, valued at R26 million, and after numerous delays in the negotiation process, has finalised the agreement.

At present parents with sick children, pregnant women and HIV and TB patients from the Du Noon area travel as far as Somerset Hospital and Vanguard Community Health Centre for health care. The long travelling distances for patients to hospitals is not in keeping with the Healthcare 2010 vision of equitable access to quality and comprehensive primary health care services. The additional influx of patients from areas beyond the hospital's catchment area also impacts heavily on Somerset Hospital and puts staff and resources in this hospital under tremendous strain.

Services at the new Du Noon Community Health Centre will cater for an estimated population of 60,000 and will be one of five large community health centres for this sub-district. Drainage will be from Du Noon, Joe Slovo, Sanddrift, Marconi Beam, Parklands and Albow Gardens in Milnerton and the northern corridor where most of the population growth is presently taking place.

It is anticipated that on an average day, seven hundred and fifty (750) patients will visit the facility of which one hundred and eighty (180) will be patients collecting chronic medication. The province's planned home delivery of chronic medication should lower these numbers.

Western Cape Health Minister, Theuns Botha, says: "We selected the site for its close proximity to public transport. The imminent completion of the IRT / Bus Rapid Transit System between Atlantis and Cape Town will also increase transport choices for people and access to the new facility."

The building will be designed as a green building, in accordance with the Green Building Council of South Africa.

Botha added that the plans for a sub-district hospital in Du Noon are also progressing. "A site has been identified and the hospital will be operated as a public private initiative (PPI). We will reveal these plans as they unfold."

The facility, staffed by approximately 118 persons, will provide the following services:

• All curative, promotive, preventative and rehabilitative Primary Health Care services
• Child Health and Child Services
• Women's Health, including antenatal, a midwife obstetric unit and post-natal care
• Emergency Centre
• TB, HIV / AIDS with ARV, STI and DOTS
• Curative and preventative Oral Health Services (dentist and oral hygienist)
• Dietetics
• Radiography
• Chronic medicine collection

Issued by:
Theuns Botha
Western Cape Minister for Health