25Jun/12Off
Better leadership needed for improved health services
Delegates at the partners meeting
On the 21st of June 2012, the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) in Mpumalanga and COSATU hosted a partners meeting in Ermelo to discuss access to health care in the province and a joint programme to educate the community and campaign against corruption in government.
In May 2012 TAC and COSATU met to discuss the programme and draw up a plan of action. Both parties have agreed that the campaign will not just be a one day event but will be a long term event. The objective of this campaign is to achieve active citizenship.
Concerns that were raised during the meeting included:
- Poor health infrastructure, recurring drug shortages and human resources shortages have a negative effect on the provision of quality health services to communities.
- The decision by the provincial legislature to phase out mobile clinics is very concerning and will become a major obstacle for access to health care for rural communities who live very far from health facilities.
- The basis for the allocation of R11 million for the National Health Insurance pilot project.
Key resolutions from the meeting:
- The establishment of a Civil Society Forum for Mpumalanga that will monitor corruption in the province. The forum will also monitor the service delivery protest in the province.
- The group will continue to advocate for the regular seating of ward meetings and ward committees.
- TAC will do community dialogues through their branch specific activities in conjunctions with other civil society organisations.
The two organisations called for;
- Lines of communication between the community and ward councillors need to be established and strengthened.
- The Mpumalanga Premier is called to chair the Provincial AIDS Council and ensure that all District and Local AIDS councils are functioning.
- All acting positions in the department of health need to be filled as soon as possible.
