Improved Access to Women's Health Campaign Launched | Western Cape Government

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Improved Access to Women's Health Campaign Launched

2 August 2011

The Western Cape Provincial Department of Health has, since 1 August 2011, embarked on a Women's Health Campaign that will conclude on 30 October 2011. The campaign is targeting women from across the Western Cape, who will now be able to access any public health clinic in the province for cervical cancer and breast cancer screening, family planning assistance, antenatal care, contraceptive choices and chronic diseases management.

The aim of the Women's Health Campaign is to empower women to look after their health and well-being. The campaign will also create heightened awareness and provide women in the province with a holistic approach to their health. In an effort to bolster this campaign, the Department has also extended its operating hours of certain facilities to accommodate working women.

Western Cape Minister of Health, Theuns Botha, says: "The staff at our facilities are geared to address the illnesses that women are prone to. The earlier these are identified, the better are the potential of complete recovery. I want to encourage our female patients to visit your nearest community health centre and get checked. These services form part of our wellness strategy, in other words, this government's goal of working towards a healthier society, rather than treating illnesses when they have reached an advanced stage."

During the extended hours, patients will be seen for the following services:

  • Adult curative, promotive and preventative.
  • Antenatal care and family planning.
  • Screening for cervical cancer.
  • Communicable diseases.

The Department's main objective is to reduce the maternal death rate by 75% by 2015. The underlying aims for the Department of Health are to manage the causes of maternal death, enhance the management of pregnant women, ensure quality provision of contraception, strengthen and support pre- and postnatal care, eliminate death from unsafe abortions and enhance community health awareness and mobilisation.

Media Enquiries: 

Darren Francis
Tel: 021 483 6632