Orchards residents get update on clinic progress
ORCHARDS – The Orchards Clinic is expected to be completed by next year.
Frustrated residents looking for answers regarding the completion of Orchards Clinic will have to wait another year for the upgrades and renovation to be completed.
This follows queries from residents about the update of the project, following the closure of the clinic last year by the City of Johannesburg for the work.
One resident, Jackie Smith, queried the progress of the clinic and some of the facilities set to be included in the upgraded clinic. “I’m just curious as to when the clinic is expected to be re-opened and whether or not the upgraded facility will include a mental health section,” she said.
Smith’s sentiments were echoed by other residents, who additionally complained about the frustration of having to travel as far as Alexandra to get access to a clinic.
Responding to these questions was Nkosinathi Nkabinde, communication specialist for the City of Johannesburg, who explained that the project was only halfway completed, despite previous assertions that it would be completed in October this year. “The project will not be completed in October and this is because the start of the project was postponed whilst dealing with objections to the project and waiting for the City’s Planning Tribunal to hear the matter.
“This delayed the start of the project by six months and thus it is envisaged that the project will be completed by June/July 2017.”
Nkabinde added that despite delays, the project was progressing well at this stage, with the overall construction programme at about 55 percent. Furthermore, the upgraded clinic is expected to be a state-of-the-art facility in line with the national health department’s norms and standards, as well as its guidelines for an ideal clinic.
“The facility will also have offices located on the first floor to accommodate a component of the Regional Health Management Team and basement parking for staff and clients,” he explained.
Nkabinde concluded by explaining that the new facility was expected to cater to residents living in Orchards, Norwood, Observatory and Alexandra. “The facility [will be] located along the Transport Oriented Development, meaning that it is easily accessible to commuters and persons living locally within these areas who may need to come to the clinic in need of Primary Health Care Services,” he said.
The renovation of Orchards Clinic forms part of the Corridors of Freedom Programme and will see the old clinic, originally a house, converted to a state-of-the-art clinic.
