Minister Theuns Botha Visits Construction Site of New Clinic In Rawsonville

Western Cape Minister of Health, Theuns Botha, today (24 January 2014) visited the building site of the new Rawsonville Clinic. Minister Botha also met the contractors and health managers. Local councillors and media accompanied him.

Minister Botha also visited the current clinic. “The new clinic needs to open as soon as possible. I can see that our staff is trying their best, but the building is too small. It is not a facility dignified for patients, or staff.”

Minister Botha said the building and upgrading of facilities in the Western Cape and specifically in rural areas such as Rawsonville form part of our strategy of developing wellness in communities. “A healthy, informed community is a resilient and productive one. When people enjoy good health they are able to form part of the broader spectrum of society and contribute to the profitability and quality of life in that community.“

Western Cape Government believes that we are only able to achieve our strategic objective of creating wellness if all role players take responsibility for their health. That means that people need to make responsible lifestyle choices.

Minister Botha said “We are building a new clinic for the people of Rawsonville to ensure a healthy and productive environment for our patients and our staff.”

The R16 million facility is situated close to the neighbourhood De Nova and within walking distance from the town. The facility will be almost 900m2 in size and will provide ample parking and easy access for emergency vehicles.

Minister Botha said the old four-room facility can no longer provide dignified health services. Construction started in early August 2013 and is at shoulder height.

The new clinic is designed in such a way as to promote easy flow of patients and less walking distance between care points for staff members. In an effort to increase patient-friendliness, areas such as the TB Treatment area, where some patients need to go daily for medication, is situated close to the main entrance thus encouraging compliance and adherence.

The new clinic will have the following areas:

• Reception
• Patient administration areas
• A women and child care unit
• Pharmacy
• Eleven consultation rooms
• Public toilets and waiting area
• Covered waiting area for early arrivals

The facility will further make use of solar panels and a heat pump to add to the department’s aim of 110% Green.  Added to the positive healing environment the facility will boast an enclosed courtyard visible from all waiting areas and will allow for fresh air. There will be a safe play area for children. 
The contractor, O Fouten & Sons, followed due process and appointed a fair number of local artisans and unskilled labour. This is the norm with all building projects.  Only specialised services are outsourced to skilled builders, and only if none are available locally. The building should be complete and ready for occupation, early in 2015, if there are no weather or other delays.