Pretoria – An integrated programme aimed at improving the health status of communities and promoting healthy living will be among the issues of focus during a two-day Provincial Health Consultative Forum in the North West.
The provincial Health Department, in conjunction with the North West University (Mafikeng Campus), will convene the forum, with both internal and external stakeholders participating and advising the department on its policies and programmes targeted at improving the provision of health care services.
Other issues to be discussed during the forum, which starts on June 14 at the Alpha Conference Centre in Broederstroom, include management of the district health system, providing accessible, equitable and affordable comprehensive primary health care service and the impact of municipal services to quality health care.
Stakeholders expected to attend the forum include academics, traditional leaders, traditional health practitioners, health portfolio committee, municipalities, NGOs, unions, Provincial Council on Aids, private sector institutions and senior managers in the department.
Department spokesperson Tebogo Lekgethwane explained that the stakeholders will form part of a multi-sectoral approach to advance and monitor delivery of health care services through the establishment of a provincial health consultative forum.
“The forum will promote, facilitate interaction, communication and sharing of information on provincial health issues between representatives of the provincial department and municipal organisations identified by the member of the executive council,” said Lekgethwane.
The forum will be required by law to meet once every 12 months to review policies and projects.
The department has also brought on board the North West University as partners to assist with developing a booklet of governance and governance structures within local government and the public sector environment.
“The university will also facilitate workshops to train members of governance structures on the challenges and the role they should play in improving health service delivery, particularly at primary health care level,” said Lekgethwane.
Provincial MEC for Health, Dr Magome Masike, is expected to give a keynote address focused on Re-engineering Primary Health Care and the Service Transformation Plan, which will give members of the governance structures a 20-year vision of health care in the country and the province. – BuaNews
