By BAKANG MOKOTO

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North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha will visit Potchefstroom to commemorate The Move For Health Day on Thursday. North West Health department spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said the departmental employees and community at large will be part of the commemoration.

“This is in commemoration of The Move for Health Day and 2021 is commemorated under the theme: Every step counts. The 10^th of May is commemorated internationally as an annual global initiative to promote physical activity and healthy lifestyles. 

“The World Health Organization (WHO) recognized the importance of this day which formally got underway on May 10 2003, with broad links to communities around the world,” Lekgethwane said.

He further said the initiative was called for by the WHO Member States and since then member States have been urged to celebrate a Move for Health Day each year to promote physical activity as essential for health and well-being.

Lekgethwane added that the main objectives of the “Move for Health” campaign are to facilitate the development of sustained national and local physical activity initiatives, policies and programmes.

“The campaign also aims at increasing population-wide participation in physical activity, to increase participation in physical activity through sport organisations, events and other socio-cultural forums,” said Lekgethwane.

He said the campaign also promote healthy behaviour and lifestyles and also address health-related issues through sports and physical activity such as no tobacco use, healthy diet, reduction of violence, stress and social isolation.

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Lekgethwane said this year’s campaign is to be undertaken under strict COVID-19 regulations.

“The programme aimed to promote and activate the adoption of a healthy lifestyle behaviours and the co-creation of wellness enabling environment by all members of the society.

“Objectives of the 2021 World Move for Health Day are to facilitate the re-activation of the NOW groups and establishing new local physical activity groups to be part of the NOW initiative,” he said.

Lekgethwane further said this will increase population-wide participation in physical activity through sport organizations, events and other socio-cultural platforms too.

 He said the activities will take place at the North West University (Potchefstroom campus) at 7am.

“The department will use this opportunity to further urge the eligible individuals on Phase 2 of the vaccine to register for vaccination including the healthcare workers and Traditional Healthcare Practitioners,” said Lekgethwane.

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By REGINALD KANYANE

North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha visited Bray clinic and handed over ‘awards of achievements’ to healthcare workers for their sterling work recently. The clinic is one of the four healthcare centres in the far-flung areas to achieve the golden status.

Other ideal clinics with gold status are in Buxton, Morokweng, and Magogong respectively. Even though the country is faced with COVID-19 pandemic, Sambatha said his department continues to provide first-hand services to the public especially in rural areas.

“An ideal clinic comprises of good infrastructure, adequate staff, adequate medicine and supplies, good administrative processes, and sufficient adequate bulk supplies. The ideal clinic uses applicable clinical policies, protocols, and guidelines.

“It also harnesses partner and stakeholder support by collaborating with other government departments, private sector and non-governmental organisations to address the social determinants of health,” he said.

Sambatha added that they have awarded four clinics certificates in recognition for the newly attained status. He said the initiative was part of quality improvement drive in rural clinics. Remember, we are in quality assurance week and it is imperative for us to celebrate this.

“The gold status achieved by these clinics is a sign that we deliver for all. All our health facilities either in villages and townships render similar services. The average score according to the weights assigned to the 208 elements determines whether a clinic has qualified for one of the four Ideal Clinic categories; silver, gold, platinum, or diamond.

“We will visit each and every facility to check whether service delivery is in accordance with the prescripts and expectations of the law. Quality assurance is needed to be maintained at all times,” said Sambatha.

He will visit Ngobi clinic on 27 August 2020 as part of his quality improvement drive.

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