New W Cape MEC on wellness mission

File picture: Marvin Gentry

File picture: Marvin Gentry

Published Jan 27, 2015

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Cape Town - Newly appointed Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo is leading the charge to transform health care in the Western Cape, through prioritising a patient-centred approach and placing greater emphasis on healthy lifestyles.

While conceding that the department’s vision has already outlined the province’s Healthcare 2030 plan, Mbombo said she would drive the process by getting communities on the road to wellness.

Mbombo joined the Health Department this year, after Premier Helen Zille reshuffled her cabinet on New Years Eve, moving Theuns Botha to Cultural Affairs and Sport.

The MEC said health under the leadership of her predecessor had been efficient in delivering health-care services to the people of this province. “My intention is to ensure that we continue with this crucial work and to provide direction towards our goals outlined in Healthcare 2030.”

Briefing the media on her department’s vision on Monday, Mbombo said with the mounting pressure on the public health-care system nationally, her department would not be able to sustain its delivery record if the focus remained on curative efforts and not preventative measures.

“I intend to bring awareness about the danger of living recklessly to every corner of this province, imploring members of the public to take greater control of their own health,” she said.

And the MEC listed her top priorities which include:

* Implementing a person-centred approach to health care.

* Creating awareness around healthy lifestyles and behavioural changes.

* Strengthening the role of community health workers.

* Care for the carers.

Mbombo said she had identified three ministerial projects which she intended to focus on. These include, alcohol awareness and its impact on health, behaviour modification at family and community level and maternal and child health.

She said creating awareness around the scourge of alcohol related injuries, was a key priority.

“Through the research we have done, it is proven that 60 percent of all deaths caused by road traffic injuries and homicide are alcohol-abuse related. This means that the large number of our people who have been admitted at our hospitals for injuries can be attributed to alcohol abuse,” she said.

In terms of diseases like hypertension, diabetes and some cancers, a change in lifestyle habits could prevent the diseases. “Should people start to make changes to their lifestyles like reducing smoking, increasing physical activity and healthy eating, we are likely to see less pressure placed on the health system.”

Mbombo said the health status of the mother affected the child and with this in mind more emphasis would be placed on raising awareness to perinatal, prenatal and postnatal care.

“Healthier mothers give birth to healthier children and great care must be taken to look after a child in early development stages to avoid complications.”

Mbombo said if more focus was placed on preventative measures, this could lessen the obligation of the curative phase.

Cape Argus

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