Bluff clinic facelift to bring a smile to patients
The purpose of the painting is not only to freshen up the building and make it more presentable, but it is also being colour-coded to help the patients understand the streams the clinic follows.
THE Bluff Primary Healthcare (PHC) Clinic is getting a much-deserved make-over, thanks to the dedicated and tireless of Bluff community volunteers and the clinic committee.
The project started on 23 March, with about 30 volunteers and clinic committee members picking up their paint rollers and brushes.
Last week they were joined by a group of Wild Oceans interns. The project is ongoing and more volunteers are encouraged to join to help reach the goal to finish before the clinic open day on 5 April.
The purpose of the painting is not only to freshen up the building and make it more presentable, but it is also being colour-coded to help the patients understand the streams the clinic follows. The clinic is subdivided into acute, chronic and mother and child and it has caused some confusion in the past, as some patients sat in the wrong sections. “The Bluff PHC Clinic serves the largest ward in Ethekwini and it is our duty to make the service quick, understandable and efficient. The back walls in the clinic waiting area and doors will be painted in three different colours – red, blue and green – so that it will co-ordinate the streams,” said committee member, Tanith Molliere.
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While painting, the group has encountered issues that halted their project. It was found that the clinic has water leakage and a broken window above the waiting room, which meant it rained on patients. “We are thankful for the help we received from the volunteers and all the sponsors who have contributed to the project. We had community members come off the street, offering their time and effort. The Bluff clinic committee has been blown away by the awesome community spirit in making this project happen and of course, we could not have done any of this without our amazing volunteers.”
Sponsors who were thanked include Delon Govender and his team at Dulux Specialist Paint Centre Bluff, Dylan at Sanitech, Bluff, Michael and Johan at MDR Building Supplies and their suppliers Marshalls/Tolson, Powafix, Academy Brushware, Sika Waterproofing and Bryan Norris, Ahmed at 5 Star Service Station and Chantal at Chantal Jaimee Jewellery and Rey and Rey’s projects, those who kept the volunteer army fed and hydrated, Gail Coetzee, Michael Collins and Zoe Moore, Ward 66 councillor JP Prinsloo, who also got stuck into the painting, was pleased to know the patients’ frustration with how the clinic process works, would be alleviated by the colour-coding.
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Many patients were previously forced to spend more time, unnecessarily waiting in the clinic and less time at home in recovery.
“Through the hard work and innovation of the Bluff clinic committee, these types of challenges will be something of the past. With the new colours indicating the correct stream and process, patients will spend less time in the clinic and staff will be able to serve more community members. I would like to give special thanks to Tanith Molliere and Kim Coward for all their efforts in making this project a reality. Through their commitment and dedication the Bluff community will receive better services as a result,” said Cllr Prinsloo.
He urged all Bluff residents to get involved. Call Tannith Molliere on 072-950-1323.
