Department receives clean bill of health

THE WESTERN Cape Health Department has continued its unparalleled 12-year track record of unqualified audit opinions.

Tabling her department’s 2015/16 annual report before the Provincial legislature’s standing committee on Community Development, Health, MEC Nomafrench Mbombo said the report was a reflection of how her department used its R18.7billion budget to bring improved quality health services to the more than 6.2 million people of the province.

Mbombo said of the 6.2 million people, 4.6 million were uninsured and dependent on state health care.

Highlighting the department’s achievements, Mbombo stressed delivering quality patient-centred care was a difficult business in the face of growing service pressures, driven by increasing demand from a growing population, a burgeoning burden of disease propelled by poor lifestyle choices, poor socio-economic conditions and ever finite budgetary resources.

The MEC said its annual patient satisfaction survey indicated 84.15percent of clients who completed the survey were happy with the service they received.

Moving to the positive health outcomes for the province, Mbombo said the average life expectancy of 66 years remained above national figures, while life expectancy for women was 68 and for men 64.

“The province’s infant mortality rate is 19.1 compared with 27 per 1 000 live births nationally and the maternal mortality ratio is 78.64 compared with 269 per 100000 live births for South Africa.” Other achievements included: 203 565 patients on ART. 82.3 percent TB cure rate. 91 153 babies delivered A low mother to child HIV transmission rate of 1 percent.

89 942 immunised children under the age of 1.

520 113 patients transported, of which 47percent were priority 1. – Warda Meyer