Premier David Makhura accompanied by MEC for Health, Nomathemba Mokgethi and MEC for Infrastructure Development, Tasneem Motara, today opened a newly built Greenspark Clinic in Merafong, West Rand.
This clinic which was built at a cost of R80 million is part of Gauteng government’s plan to revitalise health infrastructure and improve the quality of health care services in the province. It also forms part of the National Health Insurance (NHI) pilot phase rollout, as Merafong Greenspark was identified as a rollout area.
The clinic is situated in the outskirts of Focheville town in Merafong, West Rand. It will cater for the community of Greenspark, Plakkers informal settlement and surrounding farms. It will render several health services, including antenatal care, chronic diseases, minor ailments, mental healthcare services, oral health services amongst others.
The new clinic comprises of other supporting facilities, which include caretaker house, ablution block, soccer field, general store, electrical battery room, gas bottle store, generator store, and pump house amongst others. The design of the clinic was developed from the clinic prototype designs that were provided by the Department of Infrastructure Development and was approved by the Health Department.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Premier Makhura said: “Building new clinics, upgrading existing health care facilities, provision of personnel, equipment, medicine and transport, are all part and parcel of improving health service delivery in the province. In addition to building new clinics, government is working hard to improve the quality of care that is provided within all our health care facilities.
“This is in line with our Growing Gauteng Together 2030 plan which aims to ensure that we have 24-hour services in all 32 community health centres to improve patient experience. We will also ensure that by 2025, all patient medical records are digitised.”
In addition, Makhura urged community members to get vaccinated for COVID-19.
“COVID-19 vaccines protect against severe illness, hospitalisation, and death in the event one contracts the coronavirus. The chances of a vaccinated person going to the hospital after contracting coronavirus are very low,” said Makhura.
During the construction of the clinic, people in the area benefited from skills training and employment through the EPWP beneficiary programme. A number of job opportunities were also created.
Source: Government of South Africa