Mayor prioritises the development of clinics

EBONY PARK – The 24-hour and emergency service clinic in Ebony Park serving the greater Ivory Park area is officially ready to help patients.

February 28, 2020

Ofentse Ditlopo 1 minute read

Gauteng MEC for Health Bandile Masuku delivers a keynote speech at the launch of the Ebony Park-Kaalfontein Community Health Centre. Photo: Ofentse Ditlopo

Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku gave a keynote speech at the launch of the Ebony Park-Kaalfontein Community Health Centre on 20 February addressing the community and stakeholders.

The event was graced by the City of Johannesburg Mayor Geoffrey Makhubo, MMC for Health Eunice Mgcina and Nonceba Molwele who is the council speaker among others.

Mayor Geoffrey Makhubo officially opens the Ebony Park-Kaalfontein Community Health Centre. *Photo: Ofentse Ditlopo*

Masuku said the process of opening the clinic was very long and difficult, including the demand by the community that the clinic provide emergency services 24 hours a day.

Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku, Johannesburg MMC for Health Eunice Mgcina, Johannesburg Mayor Geoffrey Makhubo and Johannesburg Council Speaker Nonceba Molwele inside the clinic’s medical dispensary. *Photo: Ofentse Ditlopo*

“While there has been many differences, we appreciate the fact that the work which has been done by both the officials of the City and the government to make sure that we realise this partnership was successful. “It is important to realise that the Constitution of South Africa reigns supreme, the province has got custody of running emergency services and 24-hour services, and that the City has got the custody of running the primary health care services, but it is good that the partnership that we have formed will make it a great integrated service.”

Frikkie Swanepoel, Nthangeni Mulovhedzi, Geoffrey Makhubo, Pule Ratau, Lee Moodley, Nelly Shongwe and Elmon Mabunda at the launch of the Ebony Park- Kaalfontein Community Health Centre. *Photo: Ofentse Ditlopo*

Masuku added that the national development plan said that the healthcare system must be reformed and the primary healthcare system should be strengthened as well to achieve universal health coverage.

Gauteng MEC for Health Bandile Masuku, Johannesburg Mayor Geoffrey Makhubo, Johannesburg City Council Speaker Nonceba Molwele and Johannesburg MMC for Health Eunice Mgcina launch the Ebony Park-Kaalfontein Community Health Centre. *Photo: Ofentse Ditlopo*

“In order to achieve the following goals we have said as a country and as a province, there should be an important focus on community healthcare centres, clinics that will run 24 hours. Currently, we have got 33 in the province when we add this one, we are hoping that by the end of our term we would have reached 45, but I am certain that by the end of our financial year we would have at least reached 40 clinics.”