PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE COMMENDS HIGH STANDARDS OF PRIMARY HEALTHCARE AT SEFIKILE CLINIC WHILE CALLING FOR CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN RURAL HEALTH FACILITIES

The North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Health and Social Development conducted an oversight visit to Sefikile Clinic in the Moses Kotane Local Municipality, where it assessed healthcare service delivery and received a presentation on the operational status of Sesobe Clinic.

The visit formed part of the Committee’s Oversight Week programme aimed at strengthening accountability and improving public healthcare services across the province.
The oversight delegation was led by Hon. Hendriette van Huyssteen.

The Committee received a presentation on the state of Sefikile Clinic from the Operational Manager, Ms A.M. Ramokoka, who outlined the facility’s operations, service delivery and infrastructure needs. The Committee was informed that the clinic is an eight-hour primary healthcare facility serving a catchment population of 5 132 people, with a monthly patient headcount ranging between 1 000 and 1 200.

The clinic provides a comprehensive package of primary healthcare services, including acute and chronic care, maternal, child and women’s health services, mental healthcare and HIV/AIDS services.

The Committee welcomed the clinic’s outstanding performance, having attained Platinum Status under the Ideal Clinic Programme with an overall performance score of 92.32%, while also recording high patient satisfaction levels across key service delivery indicators.

The Committee commended the facility management and staff for maintaining high standards of healthcare despite resource and infrastructure constraints.
During the engagement, Hon. Hendriette van Huyssteen sought clarity on the clinic’s monthly patient headcount and the prevalence of teenage pregnancies in the area. Officials informed the Committee that the facility attends to an average of 1 500 patients per month.

The Committee was further advised that teenage pregnancy cases remain relatively low, averaging no more than two cases per month, while underage pregnancies are referred to social workers and law enforcement agencies for the necessary intervention and support.

While acknowledging the clinic’s performance, the Committee was briefed on several infrastructure and operational challenges affecting the facility.
The Department of Health officials said that infrastructure funding has been earmarked to address several outstanding maintenance and infrastructure challenges. These include improvements to the clinic’s security infrastructure, water and sanitation systems, roofing and perimeter fencing.

Officials advised the Committee that some of the repairs form part of short-term maintenance interventions already scheduled for implementation, while more extensive infrastructure projects will be undertaken during the current quarter and before the end of the current financial year.

The Committee also received a presentation on the operational status of Sesobe Clinic from the Operational Manager, Ms P.M. Mosia, who said that the rural facility serves a catchment population of 5 799 people in Wards 1 and 2 of the Moses Kotane Local Municipality. The clinic operates as a 12-hour facility and continues to provide a comprehensive package of primary healthcare services to surrounding communities.

The Sesobe Clinic has likewise attained Platinum Ideal Clinic Status, reflecting its commitment to quality healthcare service delivery. However, the Committee noted challenges relating to staffing shortages, infrastructure maintenance and community requests for the extension of the clinic’s operating hours to a 24-hour service.

The Committee welcomed the Department’s commitment to strengthening healthcare services at both facilities and encouraged continued investment in infrastructure, human resources and service delivery to ensure that rural communities have sustained access to quality healthcare.

The Portfolio Committee reaffirmed its commitment to exercising effective legislative oversight to ensure that public healthcare facilities across the North West Province continue to provide accessible, quality and people-centred healthcare services.

The Committee will continue engaging the Department of Health to monitor progress in addressing the outstanding infrastructure and operational challenges identified during the oversight process.