E20m clinics to service 12 communities
MBABANE – About 6 000 residents from 12 communities around Tikhuba and Mavalela will no longer travel long distances to access primary healthcare.
This is because government has invested about E20 million towards the construction of two clinics, as part of its programme of prioritising healthcare in the country.
The Prime Minister (PM), Cleopas Sipho Dlamini, officially launched the two health facilities, namely Tikhuba and Mavalela clinics at Matsanjeni North Inkhundla in the Lubombo Region. The PM was represented by Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Themba Nhlanganiso Masuku.
According to the Minister of Health, Lizzie Nkosi, Tikhuba Clinic will service seven communities, namely; Mabovini, Thiyaphansi, St.John’s, Mavubetse, New Town, Chibini and Nhlangwane.
Nkosi said Mavalela Clinic would service five communities, namely; Mavalela, Magwanyane, Sibovini, Nhlengesheni
and Mahawini.
She noted that the total number of residents to benefit from these health facilities would be around 6 000 residents.
Launch
Speaking during the official opening, the PM said yesterday’s launch was a significant one, as they were addressing a basic human right – access to healthcare.
He said it was pleasing that service provision was already going on at this facility; hence they saw policy in action as announced by His Majesty King Mswati III in his Speech from the Throne during the opening of the 5th session of the 11th Parliament.
“Providing good health services requires collective action and participation of all stakeholders and beneficiaries in the community since these services have to respond to the needs of the community,” said Dlamini.
Approach
The PM added that as government, they thrived for a client-centred approach to service delivery, hence they encouraged every member of the community to participate in defining their health needs so that the expanded package could respond to those needs.
He also emphasised that it was their aim as government to continue expanding the network of clinics in the country on a continuous basis as this formed the backbone of the primary healthcare strategy through which the country could achieve universal health coverage.
Dlamini said in this regard, they continued to allocate some resources towards strengthening of primary healthcare as it was a vehicle for preventive healthcare services.
Limited
He said this included, but was not limited to, renovation of some of the clinic structures, the implementation of outreach services for the hard-to-reach communities, and the establishment of health posts, to mention a few.
PM said he was also aware that such decentralisation of service points could come with supply chain challenges, and in that regard one could urge the healthcare team to ensure that communication between the clinic and the central level was done timeously and effectively to limit bottlenecks in the supply chain system. “To the health workers, may I take this time to thank you for your sustained commitment towards provision of healthcare to the nation at all the service points that we have in this country, including the clinics,” he said.