Province changes tact after recent problems
The Gauteng government has put together a high-level team of experienced public health experts to help coordinate the turnaround strategy at the health department.
Yesterday, premier David Makhura flanked by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and MEC for health Gwen Ramokgopa said the department needed a competent, efficient, effective and dedicated team to lead the department.
Makhura said the department had been beset by a number of challenges that were heightened by the Life Esidimeni tragedy.
“In recent days, it has emerged that there are critical inadequacies in the capacities and capabilities, and competencies to run the system,” he said. “These management inadequacies and incapacities have been clearly exposed by the Life Esidimeni tragedy.”
Makhura admitted the problems were not only financial, but also managerial.
The experts would, among other things, deal with human resources, planning, development, management as well as mentoring.
The experts would also clean up the procurement system.
They are:
Professor Mkhululi Lukhele, who is a
● professor of orthopaedics at Wits University. He has just completed his term as head of the Wits School of Clinical Medicine.
Professor Craig Househam is a retired
● professor of paediatrics and child health. He is the longest-serving head of department (HOD) in the public service – starting first as HOD in the health department in the Free State in 1995 and later as a HOD in the Western Cape health department from 2002 to 2015, when he retired.
Dr Edith Mntla holds a doctoral degree
● in nursing. She is a part-time senior lecturer at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University.
Nomvula Marawa is a nurse by profession.
● She worked as a director of policy development and systems in the national Department of Health. She also worked as a technical advisor on health systems in the National Treasury.