NCOP
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO. 5
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 17 February 2012
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 01)
Mr D A Worth (DA-FS) to ask the Minister of Health:
(1) Whether his department offers any psycho-social support to victims of
domestic violence; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are the relevant
details of such support and (b) how is the success of such support
measured;
(2) whether any such support will be given in the future; if not, why
not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) how does his department ensure that victims receive continuous
support if such support is in place?
CW5E
REPLY:
Psychosocial support services are integrated into every level of care that
is primary, secondary and tertiary in line with our health policies
delivery system, Mental Health services and primary health care services at
the coalface encounter. The package of services promotes a victim friendly
approach and different treatment and referral pathways and health service
designation to ensure support to victims. Referral pathways for
psychosocial support relate to upwards/downwards across levels of care;
parallel across programmes and across sectors.
Strengthening technical capacity for psychosocial support, the Department
of Health developed the Human Resource strategy for the Health Sector
(2012/2013 to 2016/2017) that seeks to, amongst others identify the skills
gaps and suggests interventions to address the gaps.
⢠The HR Strategy identifies shortages of different categories of health
professionals and recruitment strategies, for example, in the period
Sept 2010-Sept 2011, a total of 237 Clinical Psychologists and 489
Occupational Therapists were placed on Community Services.
⢠In addition to this, Bursaries are issued by provinces to students
pursuing studies in the health field including psychology and
Occupational Therapy.
END.