NCOP
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO. 188
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 17 OCTOBER 2014
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 16)
Mr W F Faber (DA-NC) to ask the Minister of Health:
(1) (a) How many mobile clinics are in each local municipality under the
Sarah Baartman District Municipality, (b) what is the (i) type, (ii)
year model and (iii) odometer reading of each vehicle and (c) what is
the maintenance cost of each vehicle per year for each of the past
three years;
(2) whether each vehicle is still in operation; if not, why not; if so,
what are the relevant details;
(3) whether all mobile clinic routes are still serviced in the said
district municipality; if not, why not; if so, (a) what areas were
visited and (b) on what dates since 1 January 2014 up to the latest
specified date for which information is available;
(4) whether schools in the said district municipality are visited by (a)
professional nurses, (b) a dentist and (c) a medical professional to
determine any deficiencies in senses such as (i) hearing or (ii)
sight; if not, what are the reasons for not servicing the schools; if
so, what are the relevant details?
CW292E
REPLY:
1) (a) The Sarah Baartman Distric Municipality has a total of 30
mobile clinics in the three sub-districts of Kouga (11),
Camdeboo (12) and Makana (7);
(b) (i) The districts utilise long-wheeled panel vans as mobile
clinics;
(ii) The oldest model was purchased in 1993, several vehicles
were purchased in 2000, and most recent models were
purchased in 2014;
(iii) The odometer readings of mobile clinics range from
15Â 000km to 290Â 000km;
(c) The average maintenance costs are estimated at R3Â 536.28 to
R99Â 294.00 for the mobile clinics.
2) Twenty-two (22) mobile clinics are operational and eight (8) are not,
owing to mechanical and electrical problems.
3) (a) All the areas surrounding the major towns of the District
are covered by 239 routes and a total of 1Â 277 stops are made to
increase access and coverage;
(b) Interruptions were experienced in July-September 2014 due to
professional nurses being sick, one professional nurse being
injured on duty with no immediate replacement. Other
professional nurses were on in-service training or on leave.
Mechanical problems (breakdowns) were also experienced
particularly in Cambedoo sub-district for 20 working days.
4) The delivery of school health services is well-placed in Makana and
Kouga Sub-Districts and the professional nurses visit schools on a
regular basis for screening not limited to hearing and sight and refer
also to appropriate clinical care levels (local clinics and
hospitals). Dentists also play an important role on the integrated
school health programme and oral hygienists support sub-districts as
well.
The school health service programme requires immediate response and
support in Cambedoo Sub-District due to shortage of professional
nurses. However, professional nurses from the other two sub-districts
support the programme on a monthly basis.
Due to shortages of medical professionals, there had been no visits to
schools in the three sub-districts.
END.