To date, 30 community health care centres in the province operate on a 24-hour basis. In 2017, 160 ambulances were purchased. However, there were no funds for paramedics. Funds have now been raised and the vacant posts for paramedics will be filled.
As much as we appreciate the achievements made by the province, with all the constraints, as mentioned earlier, in terms of service delivery to the people of Gauteng, there are still challenges that need to be addressed. During the NCOP in loco visit and interaction with the stakeholders, we observed some challenges in our public health facilities. A case in point is the Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital, which was upgraded to a tertiary hospital in 2012. However, the hospital is not yet offering all the tertiary
services of a fully-fledged tertiary hospital. The hospital is old, with old infrastructure and dolomitic conditions that restrict renovations. These challenges should be addressed. These issues were raised by the hospital management.
During the public hearings, someone by the name of Lerato Masogane reported that in Ward 40, they do not have a clinic. They have to walk about 8km to access health facilities. We say therefore that the province must look into that and make sure that those people are provided with health facilities.
The Department of Social Development should respond to the challenges that are facing Aganang, a nonprofit organisation that provides home-based care services for sick people and support for their vulnerable families. This facility has challenges ranging from a lack of security and transport to proper infrastructure.
In summary, people of Gauteng said to us they need more access to health facilities and that staff attitudes have to change. The issue of long queues in other facilities has to be dealt with. The question of infrastructure should be addressed.
It was also indicated that urban poverty is more acute, with close to 20% of Gauteng's residents experiencing insecurity. As a result, the provincial government has adopted a food security project. Thank you very much, Deputy Chair. [Time expired.]