The West Rand District Health Services recently welcomed representatives from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and National Department of Health (NDOH) for oversight visits at the Rietvallei 2 and 3 as well as the Maki Legwete clinics.
A statement from Sinazo Novukela of the West Rand District Health Services said the purpose of this routine inspection was to evaluate the systems in place for managing epidemic outbreaks.
“The focus was on enhancing support for the community when accessing healthcare services.”
The visit was centred around malaria case identification and the WHO and NDOH delegates assessed the community’s ability to receive services and treatment for malaria.
“To address and prevent malaria outbreaks, the district emphasises public awareness through diverse channels such as posters, social media, local radio stations, and newspapers. These methods have proven effective in educating the public about malaria symptoms, precautions, dangers, and treatment options.”
The district has put training and feedback mechanisms in place for post-exposure in malaria cases.
“It has been established that malaria exposure is uncommon among South Africans unless they have had contact with travellers, primarily from neighbouring countries like Mozambique, where malaria infection rates are significantly higher. Contact tracing of malaria cases begins with identifying the initial infection, enabling the implementation of effective strategies to combat its spread.”
Novukela said healthcare workers receive regular refresher courses on how to deal with malaria cases which ensures their skills are up to date.
“Continuous monitoring is essential to update skills and allocate sufficient resources to manage potential malaria outbreaks adequately. West Rand District Health remains steadfast in its commitment to the global fight against malaria, emphasising proper case identification and reporting to curb the disease’s spread.”
