The City of Cape Town has officially opened a temporary clinic in Dunoon, in conjunction with the Western Cape Provincial Government, in order to provide better primary healthcare services to residents in the area.
The clinic will offer services such as reproductive health advice, HIV counselling and testing, TB treatment and screening, and anti-retroviral treatment amongst others, and will be staffed by 25 medical professionals and five administrative staff.
A previous clinic in the area was closed in 2011 and the temporary clinic will be in use until a R76 million community health clinic is completed in June 2014.
The temporary clinic has seen in the region of 6 000 patients a month since it opened its doors in January 2013.
Speaking at the official launch, Executive Mayor, Alderman Patricia de Lille, said access to primary healthcare services is a constitutionally enshrined right that must be enjoyed by all South Africans. The City is therefore expanding access to such services by either upgrading existing health facilities or building new ones.
“Public health facilities such as local clinics are the first point of contact for residents who depend on the State for healthcare services. This is why we strive to ensure that our health facilities are adequately resourced with qualified professionals to provide the best possible assistance to all residents.”
The City procured new furniture and medical equipment, including renovations to the pharmacy, to the value of over R700 000.
The Executive Mayor said the clinic illustrates solid inter-governmental relationships between the City and Province to deliver services for all.
“It further reaffirms that we are indeed better together. The Provincial Department of Health made a significant contribution to the costs of the construction of the temporary facility. This joint venture between the City and the Province means that this clinic, regardless of its temporary status, will provide high-quality health services on par with other health facilities throughout the Western Cape.”
She thanked the people of Dunoon for their understanding and co-operation, and urged them to help the City look after the facility.
The official opening was also attended by the Western Cape Minister of Health, Theuns Botha, Mayoral Committee Member for Health Services, Councillor Lungiswa James; Executive Director: City Health, Dr Ivan Bromfield; and the ward councillor for Ward 104, Councillor Lubabalo Makeleni.
