Health MEC has also committed to addressing the appointment of non-clinical staff.
THE NORTHERN Cape Department of Health has appointed 424 clinical personnel to assist in the delivery of health care services and effectively manage the Covid-19 epidemic in the Province.
The MEC for Health, Maruping Lekwene, said on Tuesday that the appointments, which were made in December and January, would improve clinical capacity at health facilities.
“The 424 vacancies have been filled – ranging from medical officers, pharmacists, nurses and allied health professionals. In terms of human resource allocation, Namakwa received 52 personnel, ZF Mgcawu received 57, John Taolo Gaetsewe 43, Frances Baard 58, Pixley Ka Seme 57, and Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital 148 clinicians,” said Lekwene.
“The recruitment and retention of scarce skills and continuous training remains a priority in the department.”
Lekwene also committed to addressing the appointment of non-clinical staff – such as porters, clerks and cleaners – at health facilities experiencing shortages.
“Oversight visits to facilities has made me appreciate the demands and challenges that are a daily reality for those working in the public health sector, often under difficult circumstances. We will focus on urgently strengthening our district health with management capacity building and the appointment of permanent managers for health facilities and districts, so as to expedite service delivery to communities, ” Lekwene added.
He expressed his gratitude to all front-line workers for their efforts and conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the grieving families of 16 health workers in the Province who lost their lives due to Covid-19.
“We wish a speedy recovery to those who have been infected.” Lekwene concluded.
