Revitalising SA's hospitals, clinics
Fidelia van der Linde
23 February 2005
The government aims to complete a total of 41 hospital revitalisation projects by the end of 2005/6, and to upgrade 1 500 clinics in rural areas, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang told journalists in Parliament last week.
Tshabalala-Msimang said she was ready to be held accountable for these figures, and encouraged the media to monitor the project's progress.
Money allocated for the revitalisation programme is projected to be in the vicinity of R1-billion for the 2005/6 financial year.
At present, 30 hospitals form part of the revitalisation programme, and plans are under way to expand this by another 15 hospitals.
The first hospital to be upgraded under the project was the Colesberg Hospital in the Northern Cape, at a cost of R30-million.
"The level of resources that government invests in these projects requires that we leverage the expanded public works programme model and use labour-intensive methods of
construction", the minister said.
Tshabalala-Msimang also said that of the country's 53 health districts, 51 now had at least one health facility providing services in terms of the government's comprehensive plan for the management, care and treatment of HIV/Aids.
Source: BuaNews
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