On 9 May, the Western Cape Health Minister Theuns Botha introduced the Cape Town Metro district health council. This concludes the process of establishing health councils in all six of the province's districts.
The establishment of the Cape Town Metro district health council is in accordance with the National Health Act 61 of 2003 which stipulates the establishment of district health councils. The council will represent the metro and ensure the coordination of all health services with the City of Cape Town. The district health councils will feed their inputs to the provincial health council, chaired by Minister Botha and comprising of the chairpersons of the six district health councils.
The first priority of the Cape Town Metro district health council will be to draft a health plan according to the specific needs of the metro communities.
Minister Botha says that citizens of the metro will now be able to take up health matters through the Cape Town Metro district health council. "These members will address health issues through the appropriate structures on your behalf. I appeal to our clients to approach these members on issues relating to health service delivery in your area."
"By the same token, these members will also be responsible for the distribution of appropriate and comprehensive information on health services in the metro. If people really use the district health council to address their health service needs, we can deliver a better service together."
The members of the Cape Town Metro district health council are:
Minister Botha invited and encouraged the people of the Cape Town Metro to make use of this structure to communicate their health needs. "Approach these members to address your health service needs. In this way, we will be able to improve health services together."
Helene Rossouw
Media Liaison
Cell: 082 771 8834
Tel: 021 483 4426
E-mail: helene.rossouw@pgwc.gov.za