4th Avenue Clinic pledges to serve with a smile

The 4th Avenue Clinic staff, the City of Johannesburg Health Department together with the patients honoured International Nurses Day by launching the ‘I serve with a smile’ campaign.

The campaign has already been initiated at the following clinics: 8th Avenue, Wendywood, Eastbank, and 4th Avenue.

“This movement was implemented by Dr Mthunzi at Pholosong Hospital. It was started in order to deal with the patient’s complaints, as they mainly complain about the staff attitude – the nurses are always in the limelight for a bad attitude,” said Maphuti Mphago, the quality assurance officer for Region E.

Vusi Mazibuko, the head of health in Region E said, “The ‘I serve with a smile’ is part of improving customer care. We are committing to the public that we will serve them with dignity, and respect, wearing a smile on our faces.

“We all know that when people come to the clinic they usually come distressed as they are not feeling well. So it is up to us to reduce the stress and make sure they leave the premises feeling well.”

Mazibuko added the key to this campaign is that the public should also treat service providers with respect. Because if they fail to show respect, it cannot be reciprocated.

“This campaign will change the narrative behind the fact that every time one goes to the clinic they worry because of the attitude and behaviour they will get from the nurses, but now the smile movement will change that narrative. I have engaged the staff to say it should not be a one-day thing, from today it should go on,” said Ward 105 councillor Floyd Ngwenya.

“In order to make sure this is implemented we will continue to conduct customer satisfaction surveys and staff surveys, to find out how the customers/patients are receiving our service and also find out if the staff is happy,” concluded Mazibuko.

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