Rustenburg - Officials from the North West Health Department will spend 67 minutes with children and elderly people to celebrate former President Nelson Mandela's birthday on Thursday.
Department spokesman Tebogo Lekgethwane said the department's administrative staff will read for children, clean, paint and help feed patients at various hospitals across the province.
"Employees of the North West Department of Health will celebrate Nelson Mandela Day... with various activities in hospitals, clinics and an old age home to mark world renowned unifier’s 95th birthday," said Lekgethwane on Tuesday.
Lekgethwane said their health promotion and oral health team will spend time with elderly people at Lapa La Bohle old age home in Lonely Park near Mafikeng.
He said Health MEC Dr Magome Masike will join teams at Witrandjie and Phalane clinics near Mogwase in the Moses Kotane municipality.
“At Witrandjie Clinic, the team will replace doors, windows, paint the entire clinic both in and outside including the ceiling. (They will) patch cracks in the waiting area and consulting rooms, and replace bulbs and porch ceiling,” he said.
Lekgethwane said the team will also paint the Phalane Clinic.
He said Masike selected the clinics following visits to assess the conditions in which people receive healthcare and conditions under which nurses work.
To date, various clinics received a facelift while others are being constructed as they are beyond the state of refurbishing.
“We want our nurses to be productive and the best way of getting them to be productive is to improve their working conditions. Our facilities must reflect a healthy environment and they must be seen from outside as places of healing,” MEC Masike said.
He said the department is "vigorously channelling energy" towards improving primary health care.
“This will improve conditions of primary health care facilities with maintenance backlog and provide accommodation for health professionals at health facilities in rural areas,” Masike said.
July is observed as Mandela Month in honour of the struggle icon Madiba. Individuals are encouraged to do an act of good for at least 67 minutes to benefit those in need. – SAnews.gov.za
