Speech by the
MEC for Health and Social Development in Limpopo Mr Seaparo Sekoati
on the Occasion of the Official Handover of the Clinics and
Equipments by the Government of Japan to the Limpopo Provincial
Government
Date:
15 March 2007
Venue: Maake Clinic, Greater Tzaneen Municipality
The
Minister of the Embassy of Japan: Mr. Shinichi Ito
The Executive
Mayor of Mopani District Municipality: Cllr. Humphrey Mokgobi
The Mayor of the Greater
Tzaneen Municipality: Cllr. O.J. Mushwana Kgosigadi Maake
Concilours from the Local Municipalities
Ladies and Gentlemen
Programme Director,
It is an honour to be part of this memorable occasion of the
official handover of clinics and equipments by the Japanese
government. Our Honourable Minister of Health, Mrs
Tshabalala-Msimang would have loved to be with us but as we all know
that she is recovering in hospital. The people of Limpopo wish her a
speedy recovery.
The government of Japan
committed to aid the government of Limpopo Province for improvement
of health facilities in 2004. Three provinces KwaZulu Natal Eastern
Cape and Limpopo were identified for support. KwaZulu Natal and
Eastern Cape received Mobile Clinics and visiting points were built.
In 2005, the project
started in Limpopo for improvement of three clinics in Letsitele,
Mohlaba and Maake villages, building of four visiting points in
Kubjana, Burgerdorp, Mokgolobotho and Pharare villages, five mobile
clinics and medical equipment for the Letaba and Velvelegen
hospitals, 24 clinics and 4 Health Centres. We appreciate this
support by Japanese people and it should be acknowledged that this
was in partnership with the people of South Africa.
We also appreciate the
work done by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JAICA)
for supporting this project through maintenance and management of
medical equipments. We further appreciate the fact that there is a
pilot project to decentralise maintenance and support systems is in
the pipeline.
We are aware that aid
for South African will be reduces to technical assistance because
South Africa is classified as middle income country and can no
longer receive grants. Our province still need more support from the
Japanese government especially on skills development and training.
We would like to urge
the Japanese government not to forget Limpopo Province when entering
into agreements with neighbouring countries that we share borders
with such as Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana because whatever
projects you do with countries will have an impact on Limpopo.
Allow me to use this
opportunity to call upon our people in these areas where the
facilities are situated to take advantage of them to be empowered
with information and education programmes around issues of healthy
lifestyle, teenage pregnancy, sexual behaviour, STI, HIV and AIDS
etc.
There will be security
to protect these building but we believe that you as the community
are the only guaranteed security for these facilities for them not
to be vandalised. Threat these facilities as your own property and
the people working her as your family.
These clinic and
visiting points are yours not of the department of health. The
department is just there to manage the facilities on your behalf.
Forward with the
promotion of a healthy lifestyle in Limpopo.
I
thank you
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