City to open five drug treatment centres
Mpho Phalatse is the Johannesburg MMC for Health.
Nie Cele
Andile Zingitwa
Vivacious Joburg Health MMC, DR Mpho Phalatse is on cloud nine and raring to deliver his party’s mandate on health issues in the City.
This excitement was triggered by the recent maiden budget speech delivered byher counterpart, Finance MMC, RabelaniDagada at the council chambers in Braamfontein.
City’s health department wasallocated a total operating budget of R941 million for 2017/18 financial year and a three year capital budget of R308 million.
Amongst other things that thrilled Phalatse was the recent successful extended operating hours pilot project rolled out at Princess clinic and the announcement that five clinics are proposed community drug treatment centres.
Dagada told the packed chamber that his administration is working to change the face of the Primary Health Care System by making it more accessible.
“It is essential that we work tirelessly to build caring, safe and secure communities, in line with our fourth strategic pillar. We have allocated R30 million to capacitate five drug rehabilitation centres as a response to the drug epidemic, using existing city facilities.
“The drug addiction pandemic in our City continues to destroy far too many lives, especially of our youth. The City has embarked on a process to introduce comprehensive health and social services at all clinics in the near future,” He said.
Speaking to this publication, Dr //////said, “Iam very excited about these good news stories. Our people suffering from chronic diseases can now visit clinics at any given time that suits them.”
She also lauded the rolling out of drug centres and added that this will go a long way in tackling the drug problem ravaging the society.
Did you know?The R30 million budgetwill be broken down as follows.
- Capacitation of trained medical professionals – R26 million.
- Detox facilities equipment . R1.2 million.
- Participants drug testing kits – R210,000.
- 24 hour crisis line – R80,000.
- Personnel for the 24 hour crisis line – R2 million.
The following five clinics are proposed as sites for the community drug treatment centres.
- Region B – Westbury Clinic.
- Region D – Tladi Clinic (Soweto).
- Region E – RiverparkClinic .
- Region F – 80 Albert Street, Inner City.
- Region G – Eldorado Park.
The MMC said ,“In line with the legislative framework, these five clinics are first subject to accreditation by the provincial Social Development Department before we are able to proceed.”
