Witkoppen Centre takes big strides

FOURWAYS – Witkoppen Health and Welfare Centre launched a training room for pharmacy assistants and other medical cadres, as well as a dispensary last month.

April 5, 2019

Gift Tlou Giftt@caxton.co.za 1 minute read

Witkoppen Health and Welfare Centre's HIV programme manager Julien Chihwai, Discovery Fund representative Lisa Todes, executive director Dr Jean Basset, MMC for Health and Social Development Mpho Phalatse and chief operating officer at the centre Ashely Walbrugh. Photo: Gift Tlou

It was a remarkable day at the Witkoppen Health and Welfare Centre on 27 March as the medical facility launched a new double-storey building that boasts a training room for pharmacy assistants and other medical cadres, as well as a dispensary.

The event was attended by the City of Johannesburg’s MMC for Health and Social Development, Dr Mpho Phalatse, and a representative from the Discovery Fund, Lisa Todes.

The centre has seen a booming increase of 6.1 per cent in overall patient numbers since they announced their no-fee policy for the first time last year. It has managed to conduct over 107 000 patient consultations last year, issuing 53 726 prescriptions and dispensed 200 584 medical items.

With the number of new patients on the rise, the centre swiftly moved to construct a new pharmacy to manage the high demand.

Dr Jean Basset explains how the new pharmacy will operate. *Photo: Gift Tlou*

Executive director of the Witkoppen Centre, Dr Jean Bassett said,

“The new building gives us the resources to ensure that all our patients receive efficient service and are supplied with the treatment they need. This wouldn’t have been possible without our partnership with the Discovery Fund.”

The centre has also partnered with the Gauteng Department of Health for the past 25 years and their relationship has seen them initiate and manage patients on antiretroviral treatment, trained and mentored pharmacy assistants and expanded their public works programme cadres.

MMC for Health and Social Development Dr Mpho Phalatse delivers her speech at the launch. *Photo: Gift Tlou*

Phalatse highlighted the centre as an important associate of the Johannesburg Department of Health. “As the City of Johannesburg, we offer primary health care services to those who can’t afford them and there are areas that we are unable to reach and Witkoppen caters for those areas. The newly launched pharmacy will ensure they render a comprehensive service to people who are in need of various types of medication,” she explained.

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