Receiving healthcare out of a three room container will soon be a thing of the past for residents of Ennerdale as the City of Johannesburg starts the construction of a new R22.5 million clinic.

Johannesburg Executive Mayor Parks Tau broke ground at a sod-turning ceremony, marking the start of the construction of the state-of-the-art clinic, in Ennerdale Extension 8 in Region G last week.

The R22.5 million healthcare facility, to be built by Dryden Projects, will provide the community with local access to comprehensive primary healthcare, including integrated chronic diseases management, antenatal care and tuberculosis treatment.

The clinic has been designed to achieve energy- and water-efficiency through the use of natural light, efficient light fittings and globes, rain harvesting, the use of anti-drip taps and water-efficient toilet systems in line with the City’s greening programme.

As part of the City’s job-creation initiative, 10% of the R22.5 million clinic construction budget has been set aside for the empowerment of the local community.

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development Councillor Nonceba Molwele said the plan to build the clinic was in response to the community’s needs.

“We knew how strenuous it was and how frustrating it is to receive services in such a small container, with only three consultation rooms.  We will be moving from three consultation rooms in containers to 18 consultation rooms.”

“Health is our priority as government. We need to ensure that the dignity of our community is maintained by delivering quality healthcare services. This clinic complies with the requirements of the National Health Insurance Act.

“It will use the same operating hours, but healthcare workers will make sure that at 7.30am services start and at 4pm people who are within the yard of the clinic are attended to. No one will be turned back,” Molwele said.

The Executive Mayor said providing healthcare services would in future require more accountability from officials and added responsibility from residents.

He said from now on, the City would not rely on the number of people going to clinics to evaluate the effectiveness of the delivery of healthcare services but will be informed by life-expectancy audits.

–Joburg.org.za