By Mandla Khoza
Mbombela - More than R1 billion has been set aside for healthcare in Mpumalanga, says Health MEC Candith Mashego-Dlamini.
Delivering the Department of Health’s 2013/2014 budget and policy speech on Thursday, the MEC outlined the department's plans to improve healthcare.
“The department has set aside (more than R1 billion) and the purpose of this programme is to render secondary health services in regional hospitals and to render TB specialised hospital services,” said Mashego-Dlamini.
The MEC said HIV prevalence remains a challenge in South Africa and that the department would play its role to ensure infections are lowered.
"I did mention earlier that Mpumalanga province’s HIV prevalence is the second highest after KwaZulu-Natal while Gert Sibande District recorded the highest HIV prevalence of 46.1% amongst the 52 districts in the country.
“Efforts on prevention and reduction are being intensified in the Gert Sibande District and the rest of the province. The province in collaboration with the national Department of Health will re-launch the HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) as a means to address the increasing HIV prevalence,” she said.
Mashego-Dlamini also said mother-to-child transmission had dropped from 6.2% to 3% in 2012.
She said 28 of the province's 33 hospitals are offering Post Exposure Prophylaxis for all sexual assault patients, while 15 non-profit organisations have been funded to provide Peer Education services in the province.
"Thirty-two of the 33 hospitals are providing anti-retroviral treatment (ART) services, with the exception of Matikwane Hospital which is under consideration for inclusion,” she said.
The MEC added that the number of primary health care facilities providing ART increased from 271 in 2010/11 to 273 in 2012/2013.
“The number of patients on ART, increased from 144 069 in 2011/12 to 209 727 in 2012/13. Since the year 2010 the national Department of Health introduced medical male circumcision (MMC) as a prevention strategy for HIV as it reduces infection by 60%. The MMC intervention is therefore supplemented by condom use,” said Mashego-Dlamini.
Mashego-Dlamini further said the department has up to this far established 85 healthy lifestyle support groups which are essential for supporting people with chronic diseases.
She said healthy lifestyle awareness campaigns were also conducted in the three districts during Healthy Lifestyle month in February 2013.
A budget of R827 million has been sent aside for secondary and tertiary health care services, as well as for research and the training of health care workers.
A further R121.5 million has been budgeted for the improvement of the quality of and access to healthcare, the MEC said.
"We have had our ups and downs before, but now the department strives to make sure that no patient goes to our facility only to be disappointed,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
