Eastern Cape Health MEC, honourable Sindiswa Gomba, says the Clinic Committee is the eyes and ears of Government and Health Department. She was speaking during the opening of Vaalbank Clinic in Lady Frere at EMalahleni local Municipality under the Chris Hani District Municipality, on Friday 25 October 2019. Hundreds of people attended the official opening of the R11 million Structure which caters for 14 Villages at Lady Frere about 60 kilometres outside Queenstown.
According to the programme of the Day Health MEC, Honourable Sindiswa Gomba made Keynote Address, for the opening of Vaalbank Clinic Health Department SG, Dr T Mbengashe made the Purpose of the Day, whilst Emalahleni Mayor, Cllr S Koni, made the Welcoming and Acknowledgement of Guests. Honourable MEC was introduced by Emalahleni Speaker, Cllr. Kalolo.
Other Guests present during the opening of Vaalbank including Programme Director, Cllr. Nqono, Opening Prayer made by Rev. B. Tshaya, Chris Hani District Manager, Mrs Kizza, Chairperson of Vaal bank Clinic Committee, Mr P Damani, who described the history of the Clinic and Operational Manager of the Clinic Mrs Mtyingili.
The MEC emphasised that the Vaalbank people should own the clinic because it is their own. “We need to seat together and talk to each other, service delivery has to be human oriented, Clinic Committees must be strong and vigilant all the time as we seat here we are government and we need to help each other, we need to bear with each other in order to serve our communities and enhance service delivery”. The MEC told Clinic Committee members attending briefing session at the Vaalbank Hall.
She assured members of the Chris Hani Clinic Committee that DDG Corporate Services is attending to their matter as they did not receive their stipend for the previous years. The MEC said “we are here to witness the Opening of Vaalbank clinic hoping that this occasion will follow suite in the 17 other clinics that will be opened in these communities, in time. We are trying to make better conditions of living for the people in accordance to the Freedom Charter,” she said.
She said that South African President, Honourable Cyril Ramaphosa also opened state of art clinic in Lusikisiki recently and she is following on his footsteps. These clinics will also assist the communities in addressing the NHI challenges
Emalahleni Mayor Cllr Koni said that there are 17 Wards at Emalahleni local Municipality and each and every Ward has a clinic led by 34 ANC councillors. “We are here to deliver Services including NHI services to the Vaalbank Communities. This is not a government clinic this is your clinic,” she said.
The Chairperson of Vaalbank Clinic Mr S Damani said that Vaalbank Clinic started in 1968. He said that the people of Vaalbank made a request from government for the Construction of Vaalbank Clinic. “We are here today to witness the opening of Vaalbank Clinic which we have long requested from government,” said Mr. Damani
B Khumalo/S Peyi
