Gauteng MEC for Health Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi had a stakeholders engagement meeting on May 13 at Bertha Gxowa Hospital in Germiston.
The purpose of the engagement was to engage different organisations in the community that caters to health-related matters about the struggles and support they need from the department.
The meeting was part of the Ntihisano programme, which aims at resolving service delivery challenges affecting communities.
This programme also offers stakeholders the opportunity to engage on how the department can try to address these challenges.
Traditional leaders and healers, NGOs and ward councillors were in full attendance.
The MEC also had a meeting earlier in the day with hospital management to better understand what they have as a hospital and how it can improve.
“As the department, we are doing our best to attend to challenges that the health sector is facing and that they are aware of them,” Mokgethi said.
She urged stakeholders to continue to encourage the community to get vaccinated to protect themselves against Covid-19.
“As Gauteng, we were doing well, in the beginning, to get vaccinated. But the numbers have declined. That has raised concerns as we are getting back to work, schools, and public places but several people have not been vaccinated and this is worrying. We urge people to get vaccinated because we want to curb this virus and we plead with our stakeholders to assist us in spreading the word of vaccination,” said Mokgethi.
One of the major issues that were raised during the meeting was the waiting period at Bertha Gxowa Hospital.
The hospital CEO Lebohang Khumalo explained how cases are addressed.
“I would encourage the public to first seek medical assistance at local clinics and community healthcare centres for minor ailments before visiting the hospital. As this will indicate which priority category you fall under. As we have from priority 1 to priority 4 and this means they will be treated differently,” said Khumalo.
“Patients need to understand some patients need care urgently. Patients who are critical when they walk into the hospital will be attended to immediately even if there are patients waiting,” said Khumalo.
