No queues at provincial hospitals should be the new standard for excellence, North West Premier Thandi Modise challenged provincial health authorities, hospital boards and health professionals at the MEC’S Health Awards held at the Mmabatho Convention Centre in Mahikeng on Friday.

“Access to quality health care if for us Wafa Wafa- a do or die. Though the province has been declared the best performing province in antiretrival and tuberculosis drug availability and is among the best in having reduced queues at its hospitals. we want a situation where there is no queue at all at our hospitals, ” emphasised Premier Modise.

The Premier announced that the province is moving towards piloting 24 hours Primary Health Care services at all its clinics in villages because South Africa must be equal everywhere.

In a stern message against corruption, Premier Modise said that her administration will unashamedly and unapologetically demand value for money.

In congratulating the nominees and winners, Premier Modise applauded the new initiatives for the establishment of maternity waiting homes, human milk banks, purchase of a helicopter ambulance, 10 obstetrics ambulances and 25 ambulances.

MEC for Health Dr Magome Masike said that the department is discouraging mediocrity at all costs and under the visionary leadership of Premier Modise, health as a priority of the ANC led government has improved in the province and achieved great milestones.

Masike reminded awards ceremony that it was under Premier Modise’s leadership that the province increased by a 1000% its recruitment of student for the Cuban doctors training programme from 10 per year to 182 and trained over a thousand nurses in the past two years.

Among the Infrastructure projects that MEC Masike highlighted to be under construction include the R500 million Bophelong Psychiatric Hospital outside Mahikeng, Extension of Witrand and Job Shimankana Tabane Provincial Hospitals and construction of new clinics in Mathibestat, Lekgophung, three Sekhing, Tweelingspan and Buxton in Taung.

Job Shimakana Tabane in Rustenburg was awarded the best performing provincial hospital in the province.

Taung Hospital scooped the best performing district hospital while its neighbour,the Reivilo Health Centre emerged as the winner in the best health performing centre category.

Bojanala District came tops as the best performing district with Lebotlwane Clinic winning the best performing clinic .Runners up in the best performing clinics category were Ga-Habedi and oukasie Clinics also from Bojanala.

The best performing Emergency Medical Rescue Service(EMRS) also went to Moretele EMRS from Bojanala District ,Mamusa EMRS in second place and Kgetleng EMRS also from Bojanala in third place.

The Provincial Medical Depot received recognition for ensuring drug availability across all health facilities in the province.

Tebogo Malelete from Madibeng EMRS in Bojanala District and Madimetja Mpya from Klerksdorp Excelsius College were among recipients of special awards.

Member of the National Essential Drugs List Committee, Professor KP Mokhobo from Potchefstroom Hospital was among the doctors who received the MEC’s Special Award.

Other doctors who received the award were Dr Theunis Gertse Kruger Oosthuizen from Witrand Hospital,Dr.Manuel Sanchez-Martinez and Dr.Binu Luke from Klerksdorp/Tshepong Complex and Dr N.Mphothulo from Taung Hospital.

The best performing former CEO was scooped by Mr Cunninghan from Witrand Hospital.

The department’s Sports Organiser, Connie Ratseane, the Netball and Soccer teams also received recognition awards for winning provincial and nationally during the Public Service Games.

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health and Environment Services in Bojanala Platinum District Municipality, Councillor Violet Molotsi said that while most awards went to Bojanala, the spread of the recipients represents the strive for excellence that is across the province.

The auspicious event was also graced by Member of Parliament serving on the Portfolio on Health, Morwesi Segale-Diswai.-TDN
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Although all health facilities in the North West province provide antiretroviral (ARV) treatment to close to 190 000 HIV positive persons and was earlier in the week declared the best performing province in availability of ARV and Tuberculosis drugs by the Stop Stocks Out survey, the key to conquering HIV and Aids and achieving zero new infections, zero discrimination and zero Aids-related deaths lies in people knowing their status, Premier Modise has asserted ahead of the Provincial World Aids Day Commemoration to be held as from 9:00 am in Moshana village near Zeerust today.

The provincial commemoration at which Premier Modise will deliver the keynote address will be observed under the theme: “Get Wise, Get Tested, Get Circumcised”.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the risk of HIV is reduced by 60% if a man is circumcised.

World Aids Day is held each year as an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show their support for people living with HIV and to reflect back on the strides taken in the multi-sectoral HIV, Aids and TB response.

Currently, South Africa has one of the largest HIV and Aids treatment programmes with 2.4 million people on treatment.

In the North West, 18.9% of the entire population is estimated to be HIV-infected while 30.2% of pregnant women live with the virus.

On Thursday the province opened its third medical male circumcision clinic at the Bafokeng Community Health Centre in Phokeng near Rustenburg as part of a provincial campaign to reduce the risk of HIV infection amongst men

The clinic will run in conjunction with the Centre for HIV and Aids Prevention Studies (CHAPS) and it will be able to perform over 200 circumcisions per week.-TDN
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By Obakeng Maje

Klerksdorp-Twelve people were killed on the N12 last night when two taxis collided head on with each other.

Shortly after 20:00 paramedics from ER24 were called to the scene 20 kilometres outside of Klerksdorp on the Wolmaransstad road. 

“Upon their arrival they found several people strewn across the highway. It is believed that majority of the occupants were flung from the taxi when it was ripped open during the collision” Er24 Communication Manager Werner Vermaak.

Five children, ranging between one and six years, died on the scene. Seven adults were also declared dead. 

“Eight people sustained multiple injuries and had to be rushed off to a nearby hospital for further medical management. Two of the injured is in a critical condition” Vermaak said.

Paramedics on the scene explained that both drivers were killed in the incident. 

Bystanders explained that one of the taxis apparently overtook several vehicles before it collided head on with the other.

The road was closed for several hours while rescue workers and authorities attended the incident. The incident will be investigated.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Klerksdorp-North West police confirmed that 12 people died in a fatal accident that involved two minibus taxis.

Two taxis were involved in a collision on Sunday after a failed attempt of overtaking.

Amongst the dead, were three kids who are under the age of 12.

“Three people are critical at Tshepong hospital and 12 died at the scene” brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.

Ngubane refutes earlier reports by Er24 medical team who said 16 people died on the scene.

“The one of minibus taxis involved was from Taung” Ngubane said.

One of the taxi drivers allegedly tried to overtake a truck when he collided head-on with an oncoming taxi on N12.

Taung Long Distance Taxi Association (TALDTA) said the taxi involved in a collision, is not from their association.

“The Taung taxi that was allegedly involved in a collision, is not from our association. It is alleged that is one of taxis that was carrying school kids” Taxi association deputy chairperson Frank Theheaven said.

Police are still at the scene and investigations continue.-TDN

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Johannesburg – A Soweto man has been arrested in connection with the killing of a forensic director at an auditing firm in Houghton, north of Johannesburg, Gauteng police said on Sunday.

The man was arrested in Soweto on Saturday morning, Lieutenant Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said.

Lawrence Moepi was allegedly followed into the parking lot of the SizweNtsalubaGobodo offices in October, by men in a Volkswagen Golf.

He was then shot allegedly by the 40-year-old and an accomplice, whilst he was getting out of his car.

The pair then allegedly fled the scene. The accomplice was still at large.

According to a statement on the firm’s website, Moepi had worked closely with the police’s commercial crime unit and the now defunct Directorate of Special Operations, known as the Scorpions.

In his capacity as PricewaterhouseCoopers forensic services director, Moepi testified in the fraud trial of former Scorpions official Geoffrey Ledwaba.

It was reported that he had been appointed to work on the probe into the country’s multi-billion rand arms deal.

The arresteed man was expected to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

SAPA

Johannesburg – An investigation into the leaking of the provisional Nkandla report under Thuli Madonsela’s watch, must be launched, the SACP said on Sunday.

“The time has come for an independent investigation into the leaking from the office, and to establish whether all those within the office have the appropriate security clearance,” the party said in a statement.

The SA Communist Party had wrapped up their three-day central executive committee meeting, that was held in Johannesburg at the weekend.

“There have also been other concerning issues,” the party said.

“We were puzzled by her earlier public statement that some people ‘would be disappointed’ with her final report on Nkandla, as if this important investigation was about playing to a gallery and dishing up a particular pre-determined outcome.”

The comments were in reaction to a Mail & Guardian article published on Friday, that President Jacob Zuma had received substantial personal benefits from the multi-million rand upgrade to his Nkandla residence.

“The office of the Public Protector is a critically important institution, anything that undermines confidence in the office, or that gives the impression of over-reaching or limelight-seeking will weaken the office and, paradoxically, it will create a smoke-screen behind which those who are corrupt will seek to hide.”

The party expressed deep concern at the ‘ongoing ructions’ within the Congress of SA Trade Unions’ (Cosatu) biggest affiliate union, National Union of Metalworkers SA.

“[We have] noted and condemned the persisting disruptive behaviour of a leadership clique within Numsa.”

The SACP accused Numsa of deviating from its primary mandate of building the working class.

It said Numsa leaders were focusing on personal ambition and personal wealth accumulation.

“Irvin Jim and his deputy general secretary and long-standing business partner Karl Cloete should be challenged to undergo independent life-style audits.

“[They] must be asked to come clean on the work of the [union’s] investment arm and its relationship to its holdings in Dove, the funerals, insurance and finance company. What is the relationship?” the party asked.

SAPA