Province makes great strides in health under DA – Theuns Botha

THE DA administration had made great strides in health in the Western Cape, health MEC Theuns Botha said.

He was speaking in the Western Cape provincial legislature yesterday.

“Following the commissioning of Khayelitsha Hospital last year, we are now commissioning the new Mitchell’s Plain Hospital,” he said.

“We leave a legacy for the people of Mitchell’s Plain of quality health services comparable to the best in the world, within easy travelling distance. The Mitchell’s Plain Hospital compares to the best you can find in public health care,” he said

The construction plans do not stop there. “We are envisaging, planning and constructing more than R12 billion worth of capital projects for the next 10 years,” added Botha.

He said facilities that were completed between April 2009 and March 2013 included: Paarl: TC Newman CDC (R41 million); Plettenberg Bay: Kwanokuthula CHC (R39m) (new); Mitchell’s Plain CHC (R38m); Malmesbury: Wesbank CDC (R26m) (new); Grassy Park CHC (R20m) (new); Elsies River CHC (R4m); Riversdale: Melkhoutfontein CHC (R3.5m); Gugulethu Aids CHC (R2.5m); Knysna CDC (new); Cross Roads ARV treatment (CHC); Klaarstroom clinic (new); Ruyterwacht CDC (new); Michael Mapongwana CHC in Khayelitsha; Retreat CHC (new) and the Dunoon temporary clinic.

Botha also criticised the ANC government for failing to follow through with their promises.

“In June 2011 we had to cancel the contract with the contractor for Worcester Hospital due to non-delivery. This contract was awarded during the time of ANCgovernance in the Western Cape. Their non-delivery caused great disruption to the whole hospital upgrade project. The department lost almost two years as a result of the lost time,” he said

Botha added that a portion of the government’s budget was set aside for the maintenance of health facilities.

“We allocated money from the 2012/2013 financial year to spend on preventative maintenance of newly completed facilities in order to ensure that they are kept in a good condition and to ensure that they do not deteriorate,” he said

“Our approach is to have modern facilities, to redress the imbalances of the past according to the geographical representation of our patients,” he said. – Staff Writer